Blood Meridian

Set in the mid-19th century, the novel follows a teenage runaway known as 'the kid' who joins the Glanton gang, a band of scalp hunters operating on the Texas-Mexico border. Through the enigmatic and terrifying figure of Judge Holden, the story explores themes of inherent violence and philosophical nihilism. It is widely recognized as a seminal anti-western that subverts the traditional mythology of the American frontier.