First published 1994
In Cormac McCarthy's "The Stonemason," a skilled craftsman named Ben Telfair struggles to keep his family together in the face of devastating loss. When his young daughter dies in a tragic accident, Ben's world is shattered, and he must confront his own grief and the tensions within his tight-knit household. As he pours his grief into his work, carving intricate memorials, Ben's relationships with his wife and aging father are tested to the breaking point. With McCarthy's signature sparse yet lyrical prose, this drama explores the weight of history, the meaning of legacy, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unbearable pain.
Genres: drama, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: grief, resilience
Setting: Louisville (Ky.)
144 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: death