Cormac McCarthy

1933–2023

1 series 13 books in order 10 standalone books

Cormac McCarthy, born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr. (1933-2023), was an American writer who wrote twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays, and three short stories, spanning the Western and postapocalyptic genres. He is known for his graphic depictions of violence and his unique writing style, recognizable by a sparse use of punctuation and attribution, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary American writers.

Born: 1933
Known for: The Border Trilogy

Series by Cormac McCarthy

The Border Trilogy

3 books in order · 1992–1998

All the Pretty Horses

1992 · Cormac McCarthy

All the Pretty Horses is a 1992 novel by Cormac McCarthy published by Alfred A. Knopf. It marked a shift in McCarthy's style, featuring a more…
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The crossing

1994 · Cormac McCarthy

The Crossing is a 1994 novel by Cormac McCarthy. It is the second book in his Border Trilogy. The story follows two boys, Billy and Boyd Parham, in…
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Cities of the Plain

1998 · Cormac McCarthy

A 1998 novel by Cormac McCarthy follows a Texas cowboy who falls in love with a Mexican prostitute. He soon learns she has a pimp, who refuses to let…
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Standalone books

Frequently asked questions

How many books has Cormac McCarthy written?

We list 13 books by Cormac McCarthy across 1 series, published between 1968–2023 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Cormac McCarthy's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “All the Pretty Horses.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Cormac McCarthy's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.