Carson McCullers' Debut Novel! "The people dreamed and fought and slept as much as ever. And by habit they shortened their thoughts so that they would not wander out into the darkness beyond tomorrow." --Carson McCullers The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is American author Carson McCullers's first novel about a deaf and mute man in the deep south and the people he meets. The book is regularly included in the list of top English-language novels of the 20th century. In April 2004, it was selected for Oprah's Book Club.