The Stonemason

The Stonemason is a play in five acts by American writer Cormac McCarthy, first performed in 1995. It concerns an African-American family. The play is rarely produced.

Synopsis

This play focuses on the tribulations of the Telfair family over a three-year period. The story is told by monologues of the character Ben Telfair, a 32 year old third generation stonemason. Two acts are taken up to provide back story which involves Ben's choice to not go to college and take up the family business of stonemasonry.

Bibliography

• Arnold, Edwin T. "Cormac McCarthy's The Stonemason: The Unmaking of a Play." Southern Quarterly 33 (Winter-Spring 1995).
• Josyph, Peter. "Older Professions: The Fourth Wall of The Stonemason." Originally appeared, in different form, in Southern Quarterly 36 (Fall 1997). Reprinted in Myth, Legend, Dust: Critical Responses to Cormac McCarthy Edited by Rick Wallach. 119–140.