Death Comes for the Archbishop
Willa Cather
297 pages
First published in 1927
Vintage Classics
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My love letter to the FTC (do you think they’ve missed me?): I think this was a present from my mom, years ago. All I know is that it’s been on the shelf for a very long time.
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“During those last weeks of the Bishop’s life he thought very little about death; it was the Past he was leaving. The future would take care of itself. But he had an intellectual curiosity about dying; about the changes that took place in a man’s beliefs and scale of values. More and more life seemed to him an experience of the Ego, in no sense the Ego itself. This conviction, he believed, was something apart from his religious life; it was an enlightenment that came to him as a man, a human creature and he noticed that he judged conduct differently now; his own and that of others. The mistakes of his life seemed unimportant; accidents that had occurred en route, like the shipwreck in Galveston harbour, or the runaway in which he was hurt when he was first on his way to New Mexico in search of his Bishopric.” pp. 287-288
I’m not sure if I ever read My Ántonia (maybe in college?), so I’m counting this as my first Cather…and probably last. Not that it was bad, it just wasn’t a rock ‘em, sock ‘em type book. Despite the excerpt above, it was mostly a series of character studies, and I felt that our title character (the Archbishop) wasn’t fully developed. I never got a good sense of who he was. In fact, I kept confusing him with his BFF, Father Vaillent (the Archbishop being Father Jean Marie Latour).
Both men were assigned to New Mexico in 1851, after living in Ohio (I think it was). The book ends with the Archbishop’s death in 1888 (and given the title, I’m really not giving much away here). The focus of the book is on the people the Archbishop and his trusty sidekick Father Vaillent met over the years, as they travelled around the desert tending their flock and saving souls.
This is a very quiet book…there are a few confrontations, but not much really happens. Even the religion is subdued. Father Latour’s reflections of death are about as deep as it got, I thought. Still, there are some humorous moments (the widow who didn’t want to confess her true age, even if it meant she was disinherited) and some gentle moralistic moments (a few instances of what goes around, comes around). It’s certainly not a book I regret reading, but it’s also not anything that has me jumping on the Cather bandwagon.
The cover, on the other hand, is lovely, is it not?
Interesting question you pose on the cover. Lovely, is it not? The correct answer would be no (i.e., no it IS lovely). It’s all very confusing. And Godelian. (The liar’s paradox, you know: If “This sentence is false” is true, then it is false, which would in turn mean that it is actually true, but this would mean that it is false, and so on ad infinitum.)
I’ve read three Cather novels/novellas now but this was the only one I really enjoyed. I liked the quietness of it, and the characters. My Antonia, on the other hand, has wolves devouring people and a guy who throws himself into a combine (or some other farm equipment). Somehow I managed to be reading those scenes during my lunch both times…
I really enjoyed this one, but it’s definitely quiet.
Word Lily´s last [type] ..gLabs’ Books Ngram Viewer
I have a few books by Cather, but have never read any of them. That being said, I have never even heard of this book, and will probably skip it after reading your review!
Cather has been languishing on my shelves, untouched, for years. Looks like she will be waiting a bit longer.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Christmas- Mexico- and Books Oh My!
I’m the opposite of Amanda–I loved My Antonia, but found Archbishop boring. So don’t necessarily give up on Cather.
Shelley´s last [type] ..Fall Into Reading 2010 Wrap-up
I read and loved My Antonia in college. I’m sorry this Willa Cather didn’t rock your world. I would say don’t give up on her and read My Antonia, but it’s been so long since I read it that I don’t think I could even come up with the plot. Hmm…
Literate Housewife´s last [type] ..307 Chosen
I have read both this one as well as My Antonia. I just don’t think Cather is for me. Her writing is gorgeous, but there is not any type of action. While I am glad I read the two Cather books that I did, I just don’t have any desire to go further.
My mom is a big fan of Willa Cather but I have yet to read her and as of yet I have no desire to. Someday… or not…
Amused´s last [type] ..Looking Back and Forward
I think Cather depends on your mood. I liked My Antonia and O Pioneers, but this one just tanked for me. My husband liked it though. Then again, he teaches philosophy…
Melissa (Book Nut)´s last [type] ..December Jacket Flap-a-Thon
Everyone seems to have a different opinion of Cather. Throw me in the “love her so far” category, but I think I’ve only read one of her books, My Antonia and it’s on my mental all-time favorites list.
Jinx, I almost picked this up at the library the other day. Okay, it isn’t the same as both of us reading it at the same time, but still. I have read My Antonia and O Pioneers!, but if you put a gun to my head, I couldn’t remember a darn thing about either of them.
Gwen´s last [type] ..Buzz- The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley by Jeffrey Spivak
I have yet to read anything by this author… Can we do a readalong of My Antonio?!?!??! puhleeeease!?
Care´s last [type] ..End of Year Thoughts on 2010 Reading
I read this in college for a class and felt rather blah about it too. A book with a similar feel with my punch (at least in my opinion) is The Power & the Glory by Graham Greene.
Jessica´s last [type] ..2010 Top 10 List
I do love Willa Cather, though I haven’t read her novels in years. This book was not my favorite of her works, if I remember correctly.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..The Holidays Have Put Me In the Mood for … Zombies
I’ve never read Cather. I’m debating about whether I should start with My Antonia or Death Comes for the Archbishop. So far, I think most votes have been for this one, but I own the other…we’ll see!
Erin´s last [type] ..Thoughts on “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel
I read this one for a book group a few years ago and was very ‘meh’ about it. Not itching to read more.
stacybuckeye´s last [type] ..Third Degree- by Greg Iles