Notes on Blood Meridian: Revised and Expanded Edition (Southwestern Writers Collection Series, Wittliff Collections at Texas State University)

“Sepich offers his insight and detailed research to the less knowledgeable reader. He crafts a book that will delight the McCarthy specialists.” — Western American Literature Blood Meridian (1985), Cormac McCarthy’s epic tale of an otherwise nameless “kid” who in his teens joins a gang of licensed scalp hunters whose marauding adventures take place across Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, and California during 1849 and 1850, is widely considered to be one of the finest novels of the Old West, as well as McCarthy’s greatest work. The New York Times Book Review ranked it third in a 2006 survey of the “best work of American fiction published in the last twenty-five years,” and in 2005 Time chose it as one of the 100 best novels published since 1923. Yet Blood Meridian ’s complexity, as well as its sheer bloodiness, makes it difficult for some readers. To guide all its readers and help them appreciate the novel’s wealth of historically verifiable characters, places, and events, John Sepich compiled what has become the classic reference work, Notes on Blood Meridian. Originally published in 1993, Notes remained in print for only a few years and has become highly sought-after in the rare book market, with used copies selling for hundreds of dollars. In bringing the book back into print to make it more widely available, Sepich has revised and expanded Notes with a new preface and two new essays that explore key themes and issues in the work. This amplified edition of Notes on Blood Meridian is the essential guide for all who seek a fuller understanding and appreciation of McCarthy’s finest work. Blood Meridian (1985), Cormac Mccarthy's Epic Tale Of An Otherwise Nameless Kid Who In His Teens Joins A Gang Of Licensed Scalp Hunters Whose Marauding Adventures Take Place Across Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, And California During 1849 And 1850, Is Widely Considered To Be One Of The Finest Novels Of The Old West, As Well As Mccarthy's Greatest Work. The New York Times Book Review Ranked It Third In A 2006 Survey Of The Best Work Of American Fiction Published In The Last Twenty-five Years, And In 2005 Time Chose It As One Of The 100 Best Novels Published Since 1923. Yet Blood Meridian's Complexity, As Well As Its Sheer Bloodiness, Makes It Difficult For Some Readers. To Guide All Its Readers And Help Them Appreciate The Novel's Wealth Of Historically Verifiable Characters, Places, And Events, John Sepich Compiled What Has Become The Classic Reference Work, Notes On Blood Meridian. Tracing Many Of The Nineteenth-century Primary Sources That Mccarthy Used, Notes Uncovers The Historical Roots Of Blood Meridian. Originally Published In 1993, Notes Remained In Print For Only A Few Years And Has Become Highly Sought-after In The Rare Book Market, With Used Copies Selling For Hundreds Of Dollars. In Bringing The Book Back Into Print To Make It More Widely Available, Sepich Has Revised And Expanded Notes With A New Preface And Two New Essays That Explore Key Themes And Issues In The Work. This Amplified Edition Of Notes On Blood Meridian Is The Essential Guide For All Who Seek A Fuller Understanding And Appreciation Of Mccarthy's Finest Work. 1. Introductions -- The Problem Of Information -- Three Sections -- Scalp Hunting And The Glanton Gang -- Indian Haters -- 2. Biographies -- The Reverend Green -- Judge Holden -- Captain White -- John Joel Glanton -- Albert Speyer -- Consul Bennett Riddells -- Governor Angel Trias -- Grannyrat -- Bathcat -- Mangas Colorado -- Sarah Borginnis -- The Yuma Chiefs -- Callaghan -- 3. Settings And Sources -- The Leonids -- The Comanche Attack -- Ciboleros -- The Hueco Tanks -- Jesús María -- The Wild Bull -- The Meteorite -- June 11, 1850 -- Fort Griffin -- Chamberlain -- Ruxton -- Hobbs -- Audubon -- Bartlett -- Wislizenus -- Hughes -- Reid -- Dobie -- Ober -- Bourke -- 4. Addenda -- Languages: Spanish, French, German -- Map Citations -- Essays -- 5. Tarot And Divination -- 6. Judge Holden's Gunpowder -- 7. Knitting The Winds -- Arguments, Title, And Book -- History -- Glanton -- Kid -- Holden -- 8. Why Believe The Judge? -- 9. Concordances -- Narrative Voice -- Wolves -- Apes -- Smiles And Laughter -- Egg And Dome -- Fools And Crazies -- Hallucinatory Void -- Celestial -- Marine -- Carnival -- Religious -- Ritual, Music, And Dance -- Chance, Fortune, And Deception -- Knitting The Winds Concordances: Reins, Strap, String, Thread -- As If ... In A Dream -- The Kid Helps -- Look ... Look Away -- Horses Shy, Horses Steady -- Agency, Commitment, Witness -- 10. Massacre Accounts -- New York Daily Tribune -- William Carr's Los Angeles Deposition -- Daily Alta California. John Sepich ; Foreword By Edwin T. Arnold. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [199]-210) And Index. "Blood Meridian; Or, The Evening Redness in the West (1985), Cormac McCarthy's epic tale of an otherwise nameless "kid" who in his teens joins a gang of licensed scalp hunters whose marauding adventures take place across Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, and California during 1849 and 1850, is widely considered to be one of the finest novels of the Old West, as well as McCarthy's greatest work. The New York Times Book Review ranked it third in a 2006 survey of the "best work of American fiction published in the last twenty-five years," and in 2005 Time chose it as one of the 100 best novels published since 1923. Yet Blood Meridian's, complexity, as well as its sheer bloodiness, makes it difficult for some readers. To guide all its readers and help them appreciate the novel's wealth of historically verifiable characters, places, and events, John Sepich compiled what has become the classic reference work, Notes on Blood Meridian." "This amplified edition of Notes on Blood Meridian is the essential guide for all who seek a fuller understanding and appreciation of Cormac McCarthy's finest work."--BOOK JACKET Now back in print with a new preface and two new essays—the essential guide and companion to Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy's acclaimed novel of the Old West that has been compared to the work of Dante, Homer, Melville, and Faulkner.