All the Pretty Horses Summary
Description
Here you will find a All the Pretty Horses summary (Cormac McCarthy's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters All the Pretty Horses Summary Overview
After the death of his grandfather in 1949, John Grady Cole's mother decides to sell their Texas ranch. This leaves sixteen-year-old John Grady, who cherishes the rustic cowboy lifestyle, with no choice but to leave Texas. He and his buddy, Rawlins, decide to be migrant cowboys in Mexico, and they are joined by a younger, headstrong boy named Jimmy Blevins. Their journey into Mexico is not without challenges; Blevins loses his horse and weapon during a lightning storm and their failed attempt to retrieve these possessions results in them being pursued by a posse. Despite their rocky start, John Grady and Rawlins manage to find work at a sprawling ranch owned by Don Hector. John Grady's skills with horses earn him a promotion to be in charge of breeding the ranch's horses. However, his growing attraction to Don Hector's beautiful daughter, Alejandra, jeopardizes his newfound success. Ignoring warnings from Alejandra's manipulative great-aunt Alfonsa, John Grady embarks on a clandestine affair with Alejandra. Their secret relationship is discovered, leading to John Grady and Rawlins being handed over to the corrupt police captain of Encantada. They are wrongfully implicated as co-conspirators with Blevins, who had returned to the town to reclaim his belongings and ended up killing a local. John Grady and Rawlins are sent to jail in Saltillo, where they become targets of constant violence. Their refusal to align with Perez, a powerful inmate, leads to them being attacked. Although they survive, they are severely wounded and end up in the infirmary. In a surprising turn of events, they are released from prison, thanks to a bribe from Alfonsa. Back at the ranch, John Grady tries to rekindle his romance with Alejandra. Despite spending a day together, Alejandra decides not to abandon her family for him. Heartbroken yet determined, John Grady returns to Encantada to retrieve his horses. Although he is gravely injured during the chase, he manages to escape back to Texas, where he finds his father dead and the ranch sold. Having lost his home and family, and feeling estranged from his friend Rawlins, the novel concludes with John Grady riding off into the sunset.
chapter 1 part 1
John Grady Cole, 16, witnesses the end of his family's legacy with his grandfather's death in 1949. The ranch that's been in his family since 1866, located outside San Angelo, Texas, is about to be sold by his mother. This leads to John's decision to leave for Mexico after a series of significant conversations with his family and friends. John's parents are not on good terms. His 36-year-old mother dreams of an acting career, while his father, a gambler and World War II veteran, deals with emotional issues. It's implied that he may have lung cancer. After a strained meeting with his father post his grandfather's funeral, John feels his father believes he has failed him as a son. John's pleas to his mother to let him manage the ranch are dismissed, and she reaffirms her plan to sell it. He seeks advice from Franklin, the family lawyer, who confirms the inevitable sale and reveals his parents' divorce. Later, an uncomfortable visit to a play his mother acts in, in San Antonio, only highlights the growing gap between them. Spring 1950 brings John's final encounter with his father, during a horse ride around San Angelo. He plans to leave Texas with his friend Rawlins, and has a touching conversation with Mary Catherine Barnett, an ex-girlfriend. One night, John and Rawlins silently leave their homes, beginning their journey into the unknown.
chapter 1 part 2
John Grady Cole and Rawlins embark on their journey south towards Mexico, living as cowboys - sleeping under open skies and living off the land. During their journey, they come across a thirteen-year-old boy, Jimmy Blevins, who insists on joining them despite Rawlins' objections. The trio journey together into Mexico. Blevins proves his worth by executing an impressive display of marksmanship. The locals are poor but welcoming, offering the young travelers food and shelter. Blevins, however, struggles with embarrassment and the fear of ridicule. His insecurity is revealed when he storms out after an embarrassing incident at dinner and refuses to come back in. The journey continues with the passing of different Mexican groups. One time, they fail in buying water and end up with alcohol, leading to a drunken encounter with a storm. Blevins panics, sheds his clothes and loses his horse and belongings in the process. The trio continues traveling, facing a shocking proposition from migrant workers who suggest buying Blevins. Arriving at the village of Encantada, they find Blevins' horse and pistol but these have been taken by someone else. Despite Rawlins' concerns, John Grady insists on helping Blevins retrieve his belongings. Their attempt results in a chase out of the village, forcing them to split up. John Grady and Rawlins continue the journey, eventually reaching the Hacienda de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion. They are welcomed into the ranch by Armondo, the foreman, and meet the rancher's beautiful daughter, Alejandra. The chapter finishes with John Grady and Rawlins settling into their new roles as cowboys.
chapter 2
John Grady Cole and Rawlins start working as cowboys at the grand ranch of a wealthy Mexican nobleman, Don Hector Rocha y Villareal, known as Hacienda de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion. Their remarkable skill in breaking a group of horses earns them the respect and favor of Armondo, the ranch foreman. John Grady, in particular, impresses Don Hector with his horse knowledge and is promoted, moving into the stable and assisting with a new stallion. His new position gives him more exposure to Don Hector's attractive daughter, Alejandra. One day, John Grady and Rawlins buy new clothes and attend a local dance where Alejandra is present. John Grady dances with Alejandra and walks with her outside. On another occasion, while riding the new stallion, he encounters Alejandra again. She insists on riding the stallion and he agrees. However, he's spotted by a mysterious figure when returning her horse. Alejandra's aunt, Duena Alfonsa, later tells him to stay away from Alejandra. Despite this, they secretly ride together at night and swim naked in the ranch's lake. Sometime later, Mexican soldiers arrive at the ranch, possibly to investigate the Americans. The soldiers leave without taking any action. Alejandra continues to visit John Grady at night for the next nine days, their relationship becoming intimate. She then returns to her mother's place in Mexico City and John Grady is told she's going to school in France. But he later learns from Antonio that she's confined in the ranch house. John Grady and Rawlins escape to the mountains to rope wild horses. One night, they see Don Hector's greyhounds at their campfire, making them suspect he knows about the affair. The following morning, the Mexican soldiers come back. This time, they arrest John Grady and Rawlins.
chapter 3
John Grady Cole and Rawlins are escorted north by Mexican guards, eventually arriving in Encantada, a town they previously visited. A disagreement erupts between the two, with Rawlins blaming John Grady for their predicament, linking their arrest to his illicit affair with Alejandra. In response, John Grady insists on mutual loyalty. Held captive in Encantada jail, they encounter Blevins once again. Blevins, it turns out, returned to retrieve his gun, and in the process killed one of his chasers. The next day, the police captain interrogates Rawlins, accusing him of murder and impersonation, torturing him until he confesses to crimes he's innocent of. John Grady is also accused but is spared the torture. Three days later, the three Americans are transported to Saltillo prison. En route, Blevins is taken away and executed. Their journey is strangely relaxed, with deliveries of mail and produce being made along the way. Upon reaching Saltillo, Rawlins and John Grady are imprisoned. Prison life is severe, with the pair fending off regular violence. Despite being physically worn down, they stick together, refusing to succumb to their circumstances. They are summoned by Perez, an influential inmate, who demands a bribe. After they decline, Rawlins is stabbed and taken to the infirmary. Concerned for Rawlins, John Grady visits Perez again and refuses his bribe once more. Anticipating an attack, he uses his remaining money to purchase a knife for self-defense. The anticipated attack comes, leaving John Grady severely injured but victorious. Perez's bodyguard carries him to the infirmary. After a period of recovery, John Grady and Rawlins are unexpectedly released, discovering it was Alejandra's great-aunt, Alfonsa who secured their freedom. Reflecting on their experiences, Rawlins decides to return to Texas, still haunted by Blevins' death. John Grady, however, resolves to stay in Mexico, hoping to recover their horses and win Alejandra's heart. The chapter concludes with Rawlins heading home, and John Grady hitching a ride back towards Don Hector's ranch.
chapter 4 part 1
John Grady Cole embarks north, to Don Hector's ranch again, encountering only the humble goodwill of the local Mexicans. His old ranch friend, Antonio, also shows him kindness, as do the cowboys. He visits Alfonsa, Alejandra's scheming great-aunt, where he uncovers that Don Hector handed him to the Mexican police after probing into his relationship with Blevins. He also finds out that Alejandra agreed never to see him again as part of a deal for Alfonsa to pay for his release from jail. Alfonsa shares her worldview, her conviction that life is ruled by indecipherable forces. She narrates her privileged childhood and her choice to side with the freedom fighter, Francisco Madero, who became the first democratic president of the country. Alfonsa fell for Gustavo Madero, Francisco's brother and ally, whose kindness she appreciated when she felt estranged due to a shooting accident that cost her part of her hand. Her family didn't approve of her romance with Gustavo, and confined her to Europe until Gustavo wed, gained power, and was eventually killed by anti-revolutionaries. Alfonsa, having seen brutality and hardship, believes that the only ever-lasting truths are avarice and bloodlust: the world, she claims, is ruthless in crushing dreams. She sees herself as a free-thinker and a nonconformist, but still deems John Grady, whom she views as a criminal or a casualty of fate, unsuitable for Alejandra. Unwilling to accept his plea and with Alejandra in Mexico City, there's nothing left for John Grady at the ranch, hence he departs. Leaving town, he shares his meal with some Mexican children who offer their naive and futile advice on reclaiming his lost love. He reaches out to Alejandra, who eventually agrees to meet him in Zacatecas after leaving school a day early for the holidays. Alejandra meets John Grady in Zacatecas, where they spend a strained day together. He shares his prison experiences with her, and she admits that she, influenced by Alfonsa, revealed their affair to Don Hector. She validates that Don Hector was responsible for John Grady's arrest. She thinks their affair has made her father stop loving her. The following day, she informs him that she cannot accompany him to America. Stunned, he escorts her to the train and she departs. John Grady is left heartbroken.
chapter 4 part 2
With a heart heavy with sorrow, John Grady Cole departs from Zacatecas after Alejandra leaves him. He is set on reclaiming his horse from the captain who unjustly seized it in Encantada, the place of their incarceration. Breaking into the captain's office at gunpoint, John Grady makes him lead the way to the charro's residence - the man responsible for Blevins' death. They discover Rawlins' horse there and head to the ranch to find John Grady and Blevins' horses. Surprisingly, the horses are present, but as John Grady attempts to leave with them, he is shot in the leg by two ranch workers. Despite his intense pain, he manages to escape with the horses and an injured hostage - the captain. A heated chase ensues throughout the day, but John Grady successfully evades his pursuers. During the night, he cauterizes his leg wound using a hot pistol barrel. Despite their shared pain, he forces the captain to continue riding with him. When he wakes from sleep, he is confronted by local men who interrogate him and take away the captain, leaving him alone once again. Determined, he pushes north through Mexico, ruminating on the world's harsh beauty. He finally crosses the Rio Grande into Texas on Thanksgiving Day, 1950, overcome with grief as he senses his father's death. John Grady spends the following weeks in border country, searching for Blevins' horse's rightful owner. When the horse's ownership is falsely claimed, the case goes to court. In court, John Grady recounts the horse's story which leaves the judge stunned, and the horse is awarded to him. He later confesses his guilt over his violent past to the judge. One Sunday, John Grady hears the Jimmy Blevins Gospel Hour on the radio. Hoping that the preacher might be the horse's owner, he visits him, but this turns out to be a dead-end. He later visits Rawlins, who confirms his father's death. Feeling the distance between them, John Grady decides to leave San Angelo. The death of Louisa's mother, Abuela, severs his last tie to the ranch. The book concludes as John Grady rides off into the sunset.
