66 pages • 2 hours read
Cormac McCarthyNo Country for Old Men
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell investigates a series of murders in Texas linked to a botched drug deal. Vietnam vet Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon the aftermath, taking a case of money, which sets off a deadly pursuit by a ruthless hitman and drug cartels. Sheriff Bell struggles to protect Moss and his wife while reflecting on the moral decay he sees in society. The novel contains depictions of extreme violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men captivates with its stark prose and compelling, morally complex narrative. Critics praise its tension and rich characterization. However, some find the violence excessive and the minimalist style challenging. Despite this, it stands as a poignant exploration of fate and morality.
Who Should Read No Country for Old Men?
Readers who enjoy dark, existential themes, morally complex characters, and stark, lyrical prose will appreciate Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men. Fans of McCarthy's other works or books such as William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea will find it compelling.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
HL610L