52 pages • 1 hour read
Cormac McCarthyChild of God
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1973A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Child of God, set in 1960s Sevier County, Tennessee, 27-year-old Lester Ballard is violently dispossessed of his family farm and gradually becomes more isolated and morally corrupt. As he squats in a dilapidated cabin and later a cave, he begins engaging in increasingly violent behaviors, including spying on couples and committing murders. Despite his temporary arrests and societal rejections, Lester's actions spiral out of control, exploring themes such as the inherent violence in humanity, societal breakdown, and the nature of free will. The book references murder, death by suicide, rape, and necrophilia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Cormac McCarthy's Child of God skillfully explores the descent of a disenfranchised man into depravity within a Southern Gothic framework. While some critics praise its stark prose and thematic depth, others find the narrative disturbing and uncomfortable. The novel's portrayal of isolation and societal rejection is compelling yet divisive in its execution.
Who Should Read Child of God?
A reader who would enjoy Child of God by Cormac McCarthy likely favors dark, psychological narratives with complex characters. This novel will resonate with fans of William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and Toni Morrison’s Beloved, who appreciate deep explorations of the human condition and haunting, gothic atmospheres.