Andrea Carosso Libri

Il romanzo racconta la storia di due fratelli, dei loro vagabondaggi tra New Mexico e il Messico agli inizi degli anni quaranta. Billy Parham dà la caccia a una lupa che infesta la regione ammazzando il bestiame e quando riesce a catturarla, per non doverla consegnare al padre che la ucciderebbe, decide di portarla in Messico. Qui viene però arrestato e rilasciato soltanto dopo la confisca dell'animale. La lupa verrà usata in un combattimento contro cani in una fiera e Billy la troverà ormai morente. Ritornato a casa e scoperta la morte dei genitori, uccisi da una banda di rapinatori, Billy riparte alla ricerca degli assassini con il fratello Boyd, unico superstite.

Following "All the Pretty Horses" in Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy, this novel showcases powerful language alongside profound experiences and thoughts. Set in the bootheel of New Mexico before World War II, Billy and Boyd Parham are young boys on the brink of life-altering events. Their journey begins with a trespassing Indian and the dream of wolves running wild among settlers' cattle, as the wisdom of trappers fades away. At sixteen, Billy embarks on an unintentional quest into the essence of boys, animals, and men. After trapping a she-wolf to return to the mountains of Mexico, he discovers that everything he knew has changed upon his return, except for his younger brother, Boyd. Together, they set off to reclaim what is theirs, venturing into a world filled with vibrant fiestas, circuses, dogs, horses, and hawks, along with pilgrims, revolutionaries, and a young girl alone on the road. They encounter a tapestry of life, including bandits, gypsies, and mysteries in the mountains. Amidst this, they engage in a personal war as fierce as the one they both ultimately avoid back home. One brother discovers his destiny, while the other confronts his fate. This essential novel serves as a luminous and haunting middle passage of McCarthy's trilogy, captivating both heart and mind.