A man and his young son traverse an America that resembles a burned land. Nothing moves in the devastated landscape; only ash hangs in the atmosphere. The cold makes even the stones crack, and the snow falls gray from a dark sky. They have a pistol for defense and are dragging a cart with food that soon runs out. Their destination is the coast, although they do not know what awaits them there. Father and son, "each the whole world for the other," try to survive by drawing strength from their love.

Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023) captures a future without hope for humanity. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a deep reflection on the best and the worst we are capable of doing.