Cormac McCarthy

Date of Birth: July 20, 1933

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Biography

Cormac McCarthy, born Charles McCarthy Jr., is an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, renowned for his distinctive writing style and exploration of themes such as survival, violence, and the human condition. McCarthy was born on July 20, 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island, and grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee but dropped out to serve in the U.S. Air Force. McCarthy’s literary career began in the 1960s with the publication of his first novel, “The Orchard Keeper,” in 1965. He gained widespread recognition with his 1985 novel “Blood Meridian,” often considered one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century. McCarthy’s subsequent works, including “All the Pretty Horses,” “No Country for Old Men,” and “The Road,” have solidified his reputation as one of America’s most significant contemporary writers. His novel “The Road” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007 and was later adapted into a feature film. Known for his sparse punctuation and bleak, poetic prose, McCarthy’s work continues to influence and challenge readers and writers alike.

5 Interesting Facts about Cormac McCarthy

1. Cormac McCarthy won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007 for his novel “The Road.”

2. His novel “No Country for Old Men” was adapted into a critically acclaimed film that won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in 2008.

3. McCarthy is known for his reclusive nature and rarely gives interviews.

4. “Blood Meridian,” one of his most famous works, was initially a commercial failure but later gained critical acclaim.

5. McCarthy wrote much of “The Road” in the Santa Fe Institute, where he was a longtime researcher and fellow.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Cormac McCarthy

1. “You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.”

2. “There is no God and we are his prophets.”

3. “Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave.”

4. “You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

5. “War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Cormac McCarthy’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Cormac McCarthy has two sons. His first son, Cullen McCarthy, was born in 1962 from his first marriage to Lee Holleman. His second son, John Francis McCarthy, was born in 1999 from his third marriage to Jennifer Winkley.