logo

50 pages 1 hour read

Outer Dark

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1968

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Cormac McCarthy

Outer Dark

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1968
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Appalachia • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1968

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy is set in a semi-mythical Appalachia and follows siblings Culla and Rinthy Holme after the birth of their child, the product of incest. Culla abandons the baby in the woods and sets off on a wandering journey, shadowed by a foreboding trio, while Rinthy searches for their child, mistakenly believing a tinker has taken him. The narrative alternates between their harrowing journeys, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the presence of evil. The source material features depictions of slavery, racism, incest, and infanticide.

Dark

Mysterious

Gritty

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Reviews & Readership

4.1

23,601 ratings

71%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark captivates with its haunting prose and atmospheric storytelling. Reviewers praise its dark, lyrical beauty and powerful themes, though some find its bleakness overwhelming. The complex narrative structure and vivid imagery showcase McCarthy's literary prowess, evoking both admiration and discomfort. Overall, a masterful, if harrowing, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Outer Dark?

A reader who enjoys stark, gothic narratives and existential themes would be captivated by Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark. Fans of McCarthy's Blood Meridian or William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying will appreciate the haunting prose, rural Southern setting, and exploration of human frailty and darkness.

4.1

23,601 ratings

71%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

Culla Holme

Culla Holme is one of the main protagonists, whose journey is marked by evasion and internal conflict, symbolized by the persistent shadow that follows him. He struggles with feelings of guilt and violent impulses throughout the narrative.

Rinthy is Culla's 19-year-old sister, initially depicted nine months pregnant and seeking the child taken from her. Her journey through a dark world highlights her innocence and resilience.

This group, also known as the "grim triune," shadows Culla throughout the story, serving as a dark and threatening presence. Comprising a black-bearded leader, Harmon with a rifle, and a nonspeaking man, the trio exerts physical and psychological violence.

An itinerant salesman selling illicit goods, the tinker lives in isolation and has a significant encounter with Rinthy. He harbors complex feelings towards Rinthy and her child, reflecting his loneliness and desire for possession.

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Appalachia • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1968

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.