Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy

"Cities of the Plain" is the conclusion to a trilogy set in the post-World War II American West. The story follows two cowboys, John Grady Cole and Billy Parham, who work on a ranch in New Mexico near the Texas border. Cole falls in love with a Mexican prostitute, which leads to a tragic confrontation with her pimp. The novel explores themes of love, friendship, and the fading of the old West.

The 7632nd greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 72

Since this book was first published in 1998, there is a penalty of 38.4%. The age adjusted score is 44.35.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.