Honoring the Legacy of Cormac McCarthy

Stacey Peebles, Professor of English and Humanities at Centre College, explores the significance of the recently departed Cormac McCarthy. The man saw deep into the pain of this world, but also into its vast wonderful mystery. Admirers who for so long had called him “our greatest living writer” will now have to sit back and allow his legend to cut its own way. For decades we will argue his place among the literary masters. In this reflective moment of grief, Dr. Peebles examines the broad scope of McCarthy’s extraordinary career and revisits the characters and stories that made the writer famous. The loss of Cormac McCarthy leaves a gaping hole in the world of ideas and literature, but the jagged beauty of his work will ever keep our hearts alert. A Q&A follows.

The discussion is organized by Books & Bridges — a community institute of ideas and conversation. Our mission is to facilitate discussion on the best of human thought. We explore the wisdoms of the world and apply them to modern life. We have no political, religious or ideological affiliation. In a society divided by uncivil discourse, the beauty of the humanities—novels, history, philosophy, poetry, ethics and epics—lifts us to our better angels.