Remembering Cormac McCarthy
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Published 2023-06-16
Cormac McCarthy’s reflections on the human condition were often gut wrenching, one of the things that made him such a compelling writer. Three days ago I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of my good friend. Cormac was a unique novelist, but what many may not be aware of was the fact that he was also a unique human being. While he was a literary icon for much of his life, Cormac nevertheless often stated, to me and others, that his chief interest was science.
For years I had been asking Cormac if we could do a podcast together, but he always politely declined. Around the time I knew his new books would be appearing, I suggested that myself and my colleague, filmmaker Gus Holwerda, fly down and film a dialogue at his home in Santa Fe. I told him that I hadn’t seen him in some time, and it would be an opportunity for us to spend some time together in conversation. I am not sure why he agreed, but he did.
I knew, when arranging the interview, that it would be difficult. Cormac is, in the best of times, terse, and tends to give one word, or one line answers to questions and then refuse to say more, or even further qualify his statements even after further questioning. The day we arrived, we only had 6 hours in Santa Fe, as I had to be back for an Origins Event in Phoenix later that week. We arrived at his house, after a short stop to buy some copies of the new book that he would sign, and he announced that we were going to leave shortly for lunch—something that was not on the original schedule.
Cormac had aged considerably since our last meeting, had he walked with a cane and we assisted him to his car, along with a local Santa Fe physicist, Fred Cooper, who had befriended him, and drove to lunch, which was organized I think so we could see his son John. That was a treat that I suppose he had intended, because I had last met John a decade earlier, when he was only 13 or so, when Cormac and Werner Herzog attended an event we all did together in Phoenix—both of these men shared a profound interest in science. I remember how much fun we had talking, and how Cormac and Werner spent the day like two kids in a candy store sharing thoughts about the world with each other.
My concern however, was how tired Cormac might be after lunch, during which he ordered a full meal and drank a margarita. It was clear that when we returned back home, with only a couple of hours of clear sunlight left, that our discussion was going to be a challenge. Cormac had said in advance that he didn’t want to discuss writing or literature, just science, but I was able to use his new book, The Passenger, as a starting point for a number of questions.
I do wish we had had more time, and that we had started earlier in the day. While some who watched the discussion felt I didn’t give him enough time to elaborate on his thoughts, I knew from a great deal of experience that he wasn’t going to. I could have left long silences in the conversation, as my friend Werner Herzog probably would have done had he been filming a dialogue, but there were many ideas we had discussed at lunch that I knew both he and I wanted to get to.
There were other challenges. We didn’t have lights, and the bright sun shone in the room and kept moving across the couch where we were sitting, forcing us to periodically break to relocate. It was a difficult afternoon, but nevertheless one I will always remember. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, and as problematic as it was, it was also a privilege to give the world another glimpse into his mind.
As we parted, we left him on the couch, and walked to the front door. I remember both Gus and I looked in and saw his bedroom, with the ever-present typewriter located right next to the bed. We both agreed it would be a remarkable photo, but we also both agreed that it would be a violation of his privacy to take such a picture. Instead, I will always remember it vividly, as I will remember our last conversation.
The podcast that resulted was Cormac’s last interview. In honor of his passing we have edited it down to a series of highlights. I hope you enjoy those moments with a remarkable writer and human being, even as limited as they were. I think Cormac may have agreed to our discussion, even under the difficult conditions, because he knew it might be our last. It was yet another wonderful and generous gift from a man who the world knew in one way, and I another. I was lucky to call him my friend, and honored to be able to share this with you here.
All Comments (21)
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It’s very tricky interviewing someone you admire so much - how to engage without appearing too sycophantic, how to entice them without a excess eagerness and how to avoid appearing as an absolute clot to them. Thank you Lawrence, an excellent interview.
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Sorry about your friend, Lawrence. I'm glad you had the privilege of spending time with him, and I thank you (both) for sharing some of that time with me.
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I’m so glad we had one last long-form discussion with Cormac to witness. Thank you.
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Thank you for sharing this conversation. Great writer...rest in peace
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I am thankful that Lawrence was able to provide these interviews for those of us who won't ever be able to meet these people. I don't know about physics but I know writing can be a lonely endeavor. I've heard mathematicians say similar about their profession. So sometimes having friends to talk to makes a big difference. That's how I see this interview as a conversation between friends.
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Thanks for this, Lawrence. I'm glad someone was finally brave enough to ask him about his books!
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thank you Lawrence for posting this. this was a beautiful conversation.
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Thank you Lawrence, that was wonderful to hear the two of you in conversation discussing science, and a very respectfully written description of the days' events
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Thanks so much, Lawrence; I loved the conversation and Cormac's patient perspicuity ;D
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Thanks for this one. Awesome
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I watched the original conversation with your friend when you first aired it, and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks again for adding some precious footage of Cormac to a body of screen time that is regrettably undersized to begin with. Now take this suggestion under consideration… stop losing your friends because it affects us all. It’s been over ten years and I’m still sore over the loss of Hitch. With that said, carry on LK.
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Thank you for sharing this Lawrence, rest in peace Cormac McCarthy.
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Thanks for your story in the description
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Cormac McCarthy, a jewel of a human being and a writer of the highest order. I will always miss you.
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Thanks for this, Lawrence ❤
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A man this untellably gifted with a talent for the written word such as few mortals dare dream of, also deeply knowledgeable about the tangible world he's so often set aside in pursuit of his craft... my God. I simply can't.
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I remember reading Blood Meridian and rereading some paragraphs because the imagery was amazing.
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human spirit and energy is a blessing to be past down from gentlemen like Cormac McCarthy. I remember conversations with my old science teacher my Grandfather. loved those conversation.
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Cormac McCarthy is one of my favourite writers. I had know idea he was so knowledgeable about physics 👍
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its been quite sad since mccarthys passing that he seems to be so unread by everyone discussing him. i was only just starting to delve into his work when he passed, but it feels insulting to hear the idea mccarthy hadnt written about science before the passenger, when its integral to the character of the judge, just to give one obvious example
