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Literary Fiction· United States

Blood Meridian

by Cormac McCarthy
Aggregate Editorial Score44/100
TIME 100 Best Novels
Published 1985353 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Published in 1985, Blood Meridian established Cormac McCarthy as one of the defining voices in literary fiction. A teenage runaway known as 'the Kid' joins a band of scalp hunters in the borderlands of Texas and Mexico in the 1850s in one of the most violent and philosophically demanding American novels ever written. McCarthy's meditation on human evil, violence, and history is widely considered his masterpiece. Themes of violence, evil, history run through the work. The book has received recognition from TIME 100 Best Novels 1985.

Book Details

AuthorCormac McCarthy
Published1985
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages353
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780679728757
Editorial Score44/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

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Editorial Assessment

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy sits within the tradition of literary fiction that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1985 in United States, it engages with violence, evil, history, the West in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. Among its recognitions: TIME 100 Best Novels 1985. With an editorial score of 44/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. The appeal of Blood Meridian lies partly in its refusal to offer easy answers. Its exploration of violence, evil, history, the West is sustained, textured, and genuinely thought-provoking in ways that stay with readers well after the final page. Within United States's literary landscape, Cormac McCarthy occupies a significant position. Blood Meridian is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

TIME 100 Best Novels
list · global
198521
✍️
About the Author
Cormac McCarthy
United States
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Cormac McCarthy is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of literary fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blood Meridian about?

A teenage runaway known as 'the Kid' joins a band of scalp hunters in the borderlands of Texas and Mexico in the 1850s in one of the most violent and philosophically demanding American novels ever written. McCarthy's meditation on human evil, violence, and history is widely considered his masterpiece.

Who wrote Blood Meridian?

Blood Meridian was written by Cormac McCarthy, from United States. First published in 1985.

What awards has Blood Meridian won?

Blood Meridian has received the following awards and honours: TIME 100 Best Novels 1985.

Is Blood Meridian worth reading?

Blood Meridian is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 21/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in violence, evil, history.

Where can I buy Blood Meridian?

You can buy Blood Meridian on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Blood Meridian?

Blood Meridian is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Blood Meridian from?

Blood Meridian originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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