Embracing Vocation: Cormac McCarthy's Writing Life, 1959-1974

My copy of this book arrived on the 2nd of July, and after having only just finished my first reading of it, I am already certain that I will be frequently referring to the wealth of meticulously and thoroughly researched material that the author, Dianne Luce, has provided us with here.If you want to know anything of significance about 'The Orchard Keeper'; 'Outer Dark'; 'Child of God' (and also a great deal of about 'Suttree') where it concerns: McCarthy's writing process; the editing process and subsequent publishing of these books - down to details of decisions, many of which involved McCarthy himself, concerning cover art, the author's photo, and those back-page blurbs; marketing strategies; the important reviews; sales figures; literary awards; pertinent biographical details, etc. - all of which information is clearly referenced BTW. And if, like me, Cormack McCarthy is featured very near the top of that (very short) list of 'Truly Exceptional Literary Figures of the 20th Century' then do yourself a favor and just buy this book - it's essential.I loved it! In fact it will probably be my book of the year...Can't wait for volume two!

Dianne Luce has now written the two best books on Cormac McCarthy. Taken together with her earlier work, Reading the World (2010), readers have what amounts to an authoritative view of his evolution as a writer. The two foundational pillars of this new research are the correspondence between McCarthy and his editor, Albert Erskine, as well as Luce's interview with McCarthy's wife of a decade, Anne DeLisle. The coda of Luce's book--with McCarthy in 1974, at age 41 (close enough to Dante's "midway through the journey of our life") picking up and moving to El Paso in order to devote himself to his craft--is at once compelling, inspiring and a bit sad. There, over the next two decades or so, McCarthy would craft the four works that, I feel, are his masterpieces: Suttree, Blood Meridian, All the Pretty Horses and The Crossing. After that comes the inevitable denouement and decline, of course, beginning with the Oprah interview and the inevitable inroads fame and money make upon creativity--which CM had every reason to recognize and fear. One can only hope that Luce will now embark upon a third volume, chronicling those El Paso years.Thomas D. Young, Jr.Austin TX