Comprising the final installment of McCarthy's Border Trilogy, Cities of the Plain melds poetic prose with stark narratives, resonating deeply with fans of his previous works. While some critics laud its evocative landscapes and profound themes, others find the pacing sluggish and the plot somewhat predictable. Nonetheless, its elegiac tone and vivid character portrayals make it a compelling read.

Fans of spare, lyrical prose and complex explorations of morality, like those found in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea or William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, will appreciate Cormac McCarthy's Cities of the Plain. It's ideal for readers who enjoy Western settings and deeply human stories.

Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy follows John Grady Cole and Billy Parham as they work on a cattle ranch near the US-Mexico border. John Grady falls in love with Magdalena, a teenager in a Mexican brothel, and enlists Billy's help to save her. Their lives become entangled with violence, and the changing world threatens their cowboy lifestyle. Sensitive topics include violence, sex work, and death.

Cormac McCarthy

Adult

Novel

The Border Trilogy

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Cities of the Plain reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Cities of the Plain | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Cities of the Plain and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Cities of the Plain Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 Cities of the Plain Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 2 Cities of the Plain Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 3 Cities of the Plain Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 4 Cities of the Plain Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Epilogue

Cities of the Plain Epilogue Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Cities of the Plain Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Cities of the Plain Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Cities of the Plain Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Cities of the Plain Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Cities of the Plain Essay Topics

Cities of the Plain

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Cities of the Plain?

Reading Age

Book Details