Clock Without Hands, 1961

Clock Without Hands, Carson McCullers’ final book, was hailed by contemporary reviewers as “masterly... the most impressive of her novels” (The Atlantic). Tackling themes about existential responsibility and spiritual isolation, Clock Without Hands traces four protagonists living in Georgia as they confront how their personal limitations have affected the trajectory of their lives. From cancer and suicide, to white supremacy and racism, McCullers created “magnificent characterizations...complex and equally brilliantly realized” (The Atlantic). Following a series of strokes, McCullers’ literary career was cut short, and in her final years she shifted focus from long-form writing to short stories and novellas.