Advanced Placement, Lang: "All the Pretty Horses," Cormac McCarthy, Second Semester

All the Pretty Horses, 1992, 352 pages

48 pages, 14,819 words; numerous visuals

"All the Pretty Horses" is the first part of McCarthy's trilogy of Texas's border with Mexico. This story about culture is both familiar and surprising. Many teenagers have immigrated seeking a better life; some adults do this and more and more Baby Boomers are fleeing to a warmer climate and country. Who else, but a naive Texas Teenager would find redemption in Durango, Mexico? The heroes of this novel.

Huckleberry Finn did this first in his epic adventure in navigation of the Mississippi. It's the greatest story, America's epic, and Mark Twain is the center of The American Canon. "All the Pretty Horses" is the story about John Grady and Rawlins before they grew old. 

McCarthy deserves to live in the American Olympus. Enjoy.

John Brovsky