The Son

Published in 2013, The Son is a Western family saga by American novelist Philipp Meyer. Inspired by the 1915-18 Texas Bandit Wars, the novel speaks to the creation myths of the United States. Following its publication, The Son was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Meyer also developed The Son as a television series for AMC. The series ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019, starring Pierce Brosnan as Eli McCullough.

Set in Texas, The Son tells the story of three generations of the McCullough family, led by its relentless and imposing patriarch, Eli. As a child, Eli is kidnapped by the Comanche nation and raised as one of their own. When he returns to white American society, Eli becomes a vital figure in shaping Texas through major events like the American Civil War. His descendants, Peter and Jeannie, reckon with Eli’s legacy as they struggle to fit into their respective times and places. This novel explores Violence as the Catalyst of History, The Tension Between Hard and Soft Natures, and Taking Ownership of One’s Destiny.

This study guide refers to the first paperback edition of the novel, published by Ecco in 2014.