Outer Dark

Synopsis

A dark, nihilistic tale, Cormac McCarthy's second novel Outer Dark sees brother and sister wander separately through a countryside scourged by three terrifying and elusive strangers.

In an unspecified place in Appalachia, sometime around the beginning of the twentieth century, a woman named Rinthy bears her brother's child.

The brother, Culla, abandons the baby in the woods, and tells Rinthy that the he has died by natural causes. When she sees his grave empty, she sets forth alone to find her son.

Wracked by sin, Culla too leaves for the countryside. He will be haunted by The Trio, punishers and murderers, as the novel moves towards its eerie, apocalyptic resolution.

'A profound parable that ultimately speaks to any society in any time' - Time

Praise for Cormac McCarthy:

'McCarthy worked close to some religious impulse, his books were terrifying and absolute' - Anne Enright, author of The Green Road and The Wren, The Wren

'His prose takes on an almost biblical quality, hallucinatory in its effect and evangelical in its power' - Stephen King, author of The Shining and the Dark Tower series

'[I]n presenting the darker human impulses in his rich prose, [McCarthy] showed readers the necessity of facing up to existence' - Annie Proulx, author of Brokeback Mountain

Summary

Chapter 1:

* Introduces Culla Holme, a young woman who travels through the desolate wilderness with her father, Rinthy.
* They encounter a group of men who attack them, killing Rinthy and leaving Culla severely injured.
* Culla stumbles upon a cabin where she is nursed back to health by a mysterious old woman named Aunt Havilah.

Chapter 2:

* Culla learns that she is pregnant with Rinthy's child and struggles with her newfound responsibilities.
* She encounters a group of vigilantes who pursue a black man named Softdown Sims.
* Culla witnesses the brutality of the vigilantes and becomes disillusioned with human nature.

Example:

"The avengers had faces without expression, as though the brutality they committed had been done before and would always be done. They seemed half-living, like automatons programmed for the work of killing."

Chapter 3:

* Culla sets out on a quest to find her brother, Luke, who she believes can help her escape the wilderness.
* She encounters a traveling preacher named Burnet Hooks, who offers her guidance and protection.
* They travel together, facing numerous challenges and dangers along the way.

Chapter 4:

* Culla and Burnet Hooks reach a town where they are confronted by the vigilantes.
* Luke, who is now a member of the group, betrays Culla and tries to kill Burnet Hooks.
* Culla escapes with Burnet Hooks, but their bond is forever shattered.

Example:

"Luke's face was a mask of hatred, his eyes burning with a fire that could consume both worlds. In that moment, she understood that the wilderness had not only twisted her brother's body but had also poisoned his soul."

Chapter 5:

* Culla and Burnet Hooks continue their journey, but their relationship becomes strained as Burnet Hooks becomes increasingly suspicious of her.
* They are joined by a group of outlaws who offer their protection, but Culla senses a darkness in their intentions.

Chapter 6:

* The group of outlaws betrays Culla and Burnet Hooks, leaving them to fend for themselves in the wilderness.
* Culla gives birth to her child in a cave, but the infant is stillborn.
* Burnet Hooks leaves Culla alone in the wilderness and returns to the edge of civilization.

Example:

"As the sun sank below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Culla realized that the wilderness had finally claimed her. She was alone, broken, and lost. The darkness of the outer dark enveloped her, and she knew that she would never find her way out."