How the idea moved: 10 landmark works

1. 1939The Big SleepRaymond ChandlerOriginNovel

   Pick this one apart →
2. 1955A Good Man Is Hard to FindFlannery O'ConnorEvolutionShort Story

   McCarthy's brutal and stark depiction of Lester Ballard, a grotesque and violent figure in a rural Southern setting, directly continues O'Connor's exploration of radical evil and the dark side of human nature, often through shocking acts of violence. (passes on to Child of God)

   Pick this one apart →
3. 1963The Spy Who Came in from the ColdJohn le CarréEvolutionNovel

   Pick this one apart →
4. 1973Child of GodCormac McCarthyEvolutionNovel

   McCarthy's brutal and stark depiction of Lester Ballard, a grotesque and violent figure in a rural Southern setting, directly continues O'Connor's exploration of radical evil and the dark side of human nature, often through shocking acts of violence. (inherits from A Good Man Is Hard to Find)

   Pick this one apart →
5. 1985Lonesome DoveLarry McMurtryEvolutionNovel

   'Lonesome Dove' directly preceded McCarthy's Border Trilogy, including 'All the Pretty Horses,' and its success in depicting the gritty, fading cowboy way of life likely influenced the literary landscape for such narratives. (passes on to All the Pretty Horses)

   Pick this one apart →
6. 1992All the Pretty HorsesCormac McCarthyEvolutionNovel

   'Lonesome Dove' directly preceded McCarthy's Border Trilogy, including 'All the Pretty Horses,' and its success in depicting the gritty, fading cowboy way of life likely influenced the literary landscape for such narratives. (inherits from Lonesome Dove)

   Pick this one apart →
7. 2005The Girl with the Dragon TattooStieg LarssonEvolutionNovel

   Pick this one apart →
8. 2005No Country for Old MenCormac McCarthyOriginNovel

   Pick this one apart →
9. 2005The Power of the DogDon WinslowEvolutionNovel

   Winslow's unflinching depiction of violence, moral decay, and the harsh realities of the US-Mexico border in 'The Power of the Dog' builds upon the thematic groundwork laid by McCarthy's Border Trilogy. (inherits from All the Pretty Horses)

   Pick this one apart →
10. 2006Winter's BoneDaniel WoodrellEvolutionNovel

    Woodrell's novel shares McCarthy's commitment to depicting characters in harsh, unforgiving rural landscapes, facing moral dilemmas and violence with a similar spare, yet evocative, narrative style. (inherits from All the Pretty Horses)

    Pick this one apart →