Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023) was an American novelist whose 12 novels, three short stories, two plays, and five screenplays explore humanity’s darker facets, marked by themes of violence, decay, perversion, selfishness, death, and inhumane brutality. Departing from his usual exploration of the Western and apocalyptic fiction genres, McCarthy’s novel Stella Maris stands out as a work of psychological fiction with his first female protagonist, Alicia Western.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, McCarthy spent most of his childhood and early adulthood in Tennessee, and Southern Appalachia later became the setting for many of his early novels, including Outer Dark, Child of God, and Suttree. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, where he studied liberal arts, he briefly joined the US Air Force before delving into writing in 1953. After completing his studies, McCarthy adopted the name Cormac, a familial nickname from Irish aunts bestowed upon his father, Charles. In 1961, McCarthy married, and the couple moved to a humble shack in the Smoky Mountains. However, the union later dissolved, primarily due to his wife’s inability to reconcile with his burgeoning writing career.

McCarthy’s literary journey commenced with his debut novel, The Orchard Keeper (1965), unveiling the recurring theme of family dynamics, especially the intricate relationships between fathers and sons.