Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West [B1992]

1992 PB first Vintage International edition, clean with some general wear. One of The Atlantic's "Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years and widely considered one of the finest novels by a living writer. Blood Meridian is an epic tale of the violence and corruption that attended America's westward expansion, brilliantly subverting the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the "Wild West." Its wounded hero, the Kid, a fourteen-year-old Tennessean, must confront the extraordinary brutality of the Glanton gang, a murderous cadre on an official mission to scalp Indians. Seeming to preside over this nightmarish world is the diabolical Judge Holden, one of the most unforgettable characters in American fiction. Based on historical events that took place on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, Blood Meridian represents a genius vision of the historical West, one whose stature has only grown in the years since its publication.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A horrendous read that defies all the heroism one could extract from the romanticized tales of the west. Grotesque, confronting and raw - and a great read about men lawless beyond any recognition. Truly iconic and perfectly stylized, as if someone retells this tale at a campfire in the middle of the plains. Lovely read, unique and grim. Amazing."; "I hate the concept of racism so, so much and this book is just one of the many many many many examples why."; "This was the most violent, disturbed, and vile novel I have ever read. If you are sensitive to bloodshed and cruelty, this book is not for you. Yet somehow, despite this, the writing was beautiful; memorable. The imagery was next to none and like nothing I could ever conjure up myself. I have mixed feelings about this book, but can't deny its ingenuity and stark display of skill."; "A Western novel meets nihilistic philosophy - and then goes far beyond it. Impeccable characters and immersive scenery."; ""