Death Comes for the Archbishop (Vintage Classics)

Book Description

Willa Cather's best known novel; a narrative that recounts a life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert.

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Bishop Jean Latour and Father Joseph Vaillant are French priests who are sent to the American Southwest region to restructure New Mexico's Catholic diocese. They have been friends since their childhood in France and their mission includes the correction of backsliding priests and the restoration of the Catholic culture. Themes of Indian relations, slavery, heresy, insubordinate clerical conduct, and reclusiveness are presented for Latour's and Vaillant's examination. Latour is dignified and reflective while Vaillant is forthright and optimistic; together they're able to appreciate a simple life in the southwestern desert which has become an oasis of civilization. Latour's commitment to erect a cathedral in the wilderness is realized after nearly forty years of good works in these reverential surroundings. His devotion to his assignment and the wisdom he secures from his inner conflicts are the qualities that sustain him even while his youth drains away. Cather beautifully and powerfully portrays the harmony that results from steadfast purpose. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.

Customer Reviews:

Love Cather as I love Cormac McCarthy: time amd place.......2007-09-17

Cormac McCarthy and Willa Cather are two of my favorite authors. Both, to me, tell great stories and develop time and setting in a remarkable way. McCarthy writes about the arid Southwest, and I am familiar with Cather's autobiographical Nebraska novels. Clean, spare, descriptive writing. I like that. I have just read Death Comes to the Archbishop. Just two years ago I spent one month camping with my daughter on the Colorado Plateau. My daughter who grew up in Switzerland had never seen the Southwest. By sheer coincidence we visited much of the places mentioned in the novel. We visited the town Zuni which is just within New Mexico at the Arizona line, most of the Navajo reservation and some of the Hopi reservation, which is ensconced within the Navaho reservation in Northeast Arizona. We peered into the Canyon de Chelly also in Northeast Arizona. I applaud Cather for giving flesh and history to this part of the world. First off, how much do any of us know about the non-"American" history of the Western States? Her description of the impoverished yet devout Mexican's of the mid-1800s is remarkable. To me she captures the awesome beauty and likewise danger of the geographical, arid place: the danger being at times too much and more often too little water. This Cather novel might be too much for high school reading, as the time and place is perhaps somewhat obscure and the pace and nonlinear narrative is not what younger people are familiar with. It is not my favorite Cather novel, yet, but it is a part of the body of work of one of my favorite authors.

Sustaining Life.......2007-09-09

Willa Cather was fascinated with the role that the Catholic church played in the shaping of America, especially among the western settlers and Indians. She drew upon real-life missionary priests for "Death Comes for the Archbishop", a book that is more a series of vignettes than a novel. The religious lives of the two priests, Jean Marie Latour and Joseph Vaillant, are the centerpoint of a narrative that revolves around the land and the cultures of the native tribes.

Both priests from France, Latour and Vaillant are sent to New Mexico to build up the church and to rein in priests who have abused their privilege. Both men are paragons of virtue, while distinctly different in personality and the way they reach out to the native population. Among their many years in the American southwest they must endure the hardships of life that the climate demands, and find a way to respect the Indian traditions while bringing Christianity to the people. Along the way their lives are enriched by the throngs of colorful people they meet (including Kit Carson) and the miraculous stories of faith and survival in that primitive land.

"Death Comes for the Archbishop" is relatively fast-paced, although a little choppy. Cather moves from one account to another with little transition between them. The title is a bit misleading, setting a tone of impending doom that is not present in the book. Through these stories, however; one gains insight into the trying lives of two priests who were following their purpose to serve God. It is a remarkable portrait of faith and endurance, tested time and again only to always make it through the fire.

Simple, graceful, magnificent.......2007-06-22

From the opening pages in Rome, to the closing chapter in New Mexico, this is a novel about how time and place mold us, and how we, in turn, with dedication and love, can mold a place ourselves. It is a rare novel that never draws attention to itself, but meanders with the finality of a river running to a deep water ocean. Omnia mutantar nihil interit as they say. By the time you reach the final pages you'll be able to look back on the life of the Bishop with a clearer understanding of what it means to dedicate one's life to a single moral purpose and how to love a people and a place without judgement, but with hope and discipline.

When Priests Were Revered, Not Reviled [61][89][T].......2007-06-15

Willa Cather was born in 1873, and the majority of the adventures of this book would coincide with the pioneering peers of her parents. The protagonist of this book is French born and American bound priest/Bishop: Father Latour whose adventures occur from the middle 19th century to 1888.

The priesthood was relished and loved in those days. Latour is a calming and placable fellow. He is honest as the day is long. He is, unlike others around him, celibate and obedient to the church - whether its laws be appropriate or not.

The amount of traveling on mules, the hard adventures to other civilizations and cultures, and the torrid natural elements fighting the priests are seemingly insurmountable. But, the priest, who becomes a bishop who later becomes an archbishop, lasts like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps moving, well beyond his retirement years. Having traveled to and fro by the least rapid of transportation modes.

Latour may be outdone by comrade Joseph Valliant - who is called Father Joseph or Father Vaillant in the book. That man, small in size and thin as a rail, never stays put. On order by his comrade, he ventures about in nomadic style preaching to the Indians and Mexicans, delivering sacrament and church baptism and other rites to better their souls. And, in certain passages, the intellectual Latour - who sees Valliant as his closest and best friend - acknowledges his friend's superior constitution and abilities. Each has a strength and weakness. But, overall, the Bishop sees Vaillant as the superior man of the cloth.

I admit this book impressed me in that there is little discussion of women. Instead, it is a tale. A greatly told tale. Of men in a man's world. And, all written by a woman. The ability to cross gender lines always impresses me - like Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha", Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net", or even Alexander McCall Smith's "Ladies' Detective Agency" series.

This was one of those books assigned to my parents as required reading. And, I am sure it was read, but with some disrespect to the teacher who made the assignment. Even though Kit Carson is referred to in the book, there is nothing exciting about what he does within the pages to lure the attention of young boys.

Although it is about priests in the virginal new land, this book is without obfuscation, without much symbolism, without most of literature's cute tools. This is a tale, this is allegory, this is fine story telling. Something which was more common in the time that this book was written and something which is unfortunately becoming less common today.

Enduring Tale of Faith and the Frontier.......2007-03-22

Willa Cather's self-described narrative, "Death Comes for the Archbishop" tells the story of the Southwestern U.S. at the middle of the 19th century, and the epic story of two Catholic priests who transformed it. Cather changes style from a traditional novel and tells her story in a detached, biographical manner, yet she manages to capture the aura and beauty of the Southwest and its people.

At the onset of the novel, a French priest is wandering through the desert, lost and dying of thirst. Yet, a "miracle" happens, as he finds a hidden village with an underground water supply and is saved. Although this may be the first miracle for Jean Latour, his life is full of small miracles which help to transform the native Indians and Mexicans into devout Catholics. Indeed, the miracles that Cather describes through a rich tapestry of legends and stories, are those which happen to the poorest and most destitute in the unforgiving desert. Cather seems to imply that one need not be rich and powerful to be a recipient of one of God's countless miracles.

When Latour first arrives in New Mexico in 1850, the Mexicans and Indian converts have corrupted the Catholic teachings, although they are devout. Indeed, hundreds of years have passed since they've had the rigid conformity of the Catholic church, as the priests currently in place are corrupt and sin-ridden. However, though they may not follow strict Catholic doctrine, the Mexicans are devout and ready to be molded by the right priest. It is Valliant and Latour who prove to be the "shepherds" to these "lost sheep" of God.

Throughout the novel, Jean Latour, who eventually becomes an archbishop, is compared with Joseph Valliant, Latour's colleague and (very) close friend. While Latour is stoic and introverted, Valliant is outgoing and confrontational. In fact, Latour believes that Valliant is the better priest, for despite his ailing health, Valliant braves the elements and brings the desert's inhabitants back to God. And even though he may change dioceses often, he is always up to the challenge, even in the outlaw west of Gold rush Colorado in the 1850s and 1860s. Although they may have different styles, both Latour and Valliant prove irreplaceable as their valiant efforts transform the Southwest into a hotbed of Catholic fervor.

Cather's vivid descriptions of the landscape help to bring this novel to life. Sweeping panoramas and mysterious canyons are brought forth in descriptive, imaginative language. The characters are given extra dimension through past antidotes and tales which give them a more personal, humanistic character. Although this may not quite be Cather's best novel, it is still a captivating tale and should not be missed.

Willa Cather : Later Novels : A Lost Lady / The Professor's House / Death Comes for the Archbishop / Shadows on the Rock / Lucy Gayheart / Sapphira and the Slave Girl (The Library of America)

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Her talent is breath-taking
My Antonia
My Antonia
Some of Cather's finest work
Absolutely perfect fiction

Willa Cather : Later Novels : A Lost Lady / The Professor's House / Death Comes for the Archbishop / Shadows on the Rock / Lucy Gayheart / Sapphira and the Slave Girl (The Library of America)
Willa Cather , and Sharon O'Brien
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0940450526

Book Description

The six works in this volume--"A Lost Lady," "The Professor's House," "Death Comes for the Archbishop," "Shadows on the Rock," "Lucy Gayheart," and "Sapphira and the Slave Girl"--are at once intensely lyrical and highly controlled. Their fascination with the American Southwest, early Canada and Catholicism reflects the older Cather's search for alternatives to the grasping civilization she felt was increasingly replacing the spirit of the early pioneers. validation-form-field.keypoints: The Library of America is an award-winning, nonprofit program dedicated to publishing America's best and most significant writing in handsome, enduring volumes, featuring authoritative texts. Hailed as "the most important book-publishing project in the nation's history" (Newsweek), this acclaimed series is restoring America's literary heritage in "the finest-looking, longest-lasting edition ever made" (New Republic).

Customer Reviews:

Her talent is breath-taking.......2006-06-21

Somehow, though I love to read,I had missed Willa Cather. I had already read and loved Jane Austen but it was not until I read "My Antonia" that I realized what I had missed all of these years. Willa Cather is truly a genius of the written word. To call her writing 'good' or her stories 'enjoyable' is to understate her talent. Her writing is beautiful though the stories are simple. Each place she writes about makes one believe that she lived there all her life. Her book "Saphira and the Slave Girl" would make you think she had lived there and in that time. Many of her stories are out on the prairie and seem to glow with the golden light from the sun on the fields of grain. Her characterizations are simple but profound and she often throws in a dramatic tale told by a character. And yes, this physical book is also beautiful and a joy to read. It makes one wonder about ever reading a cheap paperback again.

My Antonia.......2001-09-02

This book was very interesting had a good theme and plot.
It kept the reader on edge throughout the entire book. I would recommend it to everyone.

My Antonia.......2001-09-02

This book was very interesting had a good theme and plot.

It kept the reader on edge throughout the entire book. I would

recommend it to everyone.

Some of Cather's finest work.......2000-10-03

Like all the volumes in the Library of America series, this book is beautiful and made to last. Some readers may be bothered by the thin paper, but it allows so much to be packed into a handy book. As the title states, this is a collection from Cather's early work (her first "first novel," _Alexander's Bridge_, is missing). _The Troll Garden_ is a collection of Cather's early short stories, most in the manner of H. James and have a fin-de-siecle tone. "The Sculptor's Funeral," which depicts a town's inability to recognize achievement in any form but monetary, is perhaps the best. That and two other stories were revised by Cather for _Youth and the Bright Medusa_ (1920 an available in LoA 57 _Stories, Poems, and Other Writings_). Reading the versions side-by-side, one can achieve insight into Cather's growing abilities as a writer. However, the most rewarding read in this volume is _My Antonia_. Cather's first masterpiece depicts the lives of Jim Burden and Antonia Shimerda from their arrival in Black Hawk, Nebraska to twenty years after Jim leaves Black Hawk for a life in the East. Antonia remains in Nebraska, becomes a maid in town, and marries (twice). The theme of the book, from Jim's perspective, is aptly captured in the epigraph: "optima dies . . . prima fugit" (from Virgil's _Aeneid_). Again like all volumes in the LoA, a chronology of the authors life, a "Note on the Texts" and a few notes, containing information on allusions and translations of foreign words and phrases appear at the end of the volume.

Absolutely perfect fiction.......1999-05-21

One of my all-time favorite books. Attractively packaged on acid-free paper. Very classic looking. And the fiction is excellent! Her stories about the Plains, the Southwest, Chicago, and Quebec are perfect works of art. I especially liked "Tom Outland's Story" contained within "The Professor's House."

Death Comes for the Archbishop (Virago Modern Classics)

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Death Comes for the Archbishop (Virago Modern Classics)
Willa Cather
Manufacturer: Virago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1844083721

Book Description

In 1851 Bishop Latour and his friend Father Valliant are despatched to New Mexico to reawaken its slumbering Catholicism. Moving along the endless prairies, Latour spreads his faith the only way he knows—gently, although he must contend with the unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Over nearly 40 years, they leave converts and enemies, crosses, and occasionally ecstasy in their wake. But it takes a death for them to make their mark on the landscape forever.

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Death Comes For the Archbishop
Willa Cather
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Death Comes for the Archbishop

Manufacturer: Book of the Month Club, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: B000B36AX2

Willa Cather's My Antonia and O Pioneers! the Song of the Lark 1 of Ours Death Comes for the Archbishop: A Critical Commentary

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Willa Cather's My Antonia and O Pioneers! the Song of the Lark 1 of Ours Death Comes for the Archbishop: A Critical Commentary
Joan Thellusson Nourse , and Robin Fleisig
Manufacturer: Monarch Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Death Comes for the Archbishop
Willa Cather
Manufacturer: William Heinemann Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Death comes for the archbishop: Willa, Cather

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Death comes for the archbishop: Willa, Cather
Willa Cather
Manufacturer: A.A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP

Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP.

Manufacturer: VINTAGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HL18Y4

Book Description

The USA Today bestselling author tempts success in this stunning debut novel.

National bestselling author Eileen Wilks draws readers into a bold new world where the magical and mundane co-exist in an uneasy alliance--and a cop balanced on her own knife-edged struggle is their only hope against a cold-blooded killer.

Customer Reviews:

cant wait to read the next book.......2007-07-22

This book is about a detective named Lily lu. A man is killed by a werewolf, and that mans wife is sleeping with the werewolf prince Rule Turner. When Lily talks to Rule about the murder, Rule know pretty much right away that she is special. For about a second it looks Rule could have done it and gets locked up for a couple of hours. He is proven innocent by Lily she knows someone else did it because she's a sensitive (she can feel magic). It's soon obvious Rule was framed and a couple of cops including Lily's boss might (might) be dirty. Theres two FBI agents in town you don't know if you can trust, and someone in Rule's clan that COULD be a trader. On top of that a colt is trying to bring an evil goddess back. Lily has to solve the murders, figure out who she can trust, and deal with being Rules Chosen (seems to be like a mate but more).
The books a great read.It may get a little complex cause it has a lot going on but it never gets boring. It has great secondary characters that add to the story instead of take away from it. You should try this book but it's definitely not a lite read.

Start of a great series.......2007-05-18

This is the first book in a series by Eileen Wilks. She wrote a novella that appears in Lover Beware that has the same two lead characters but otherwise is a totally different story. If you've read the novella, it is sort of disorienting to read the books in the series. Read them in order. Each book stands alone but the characters are richer when they develop over time. Wilks has a very interesting take on werewolves and has put a lot of thought into the structure of their society. It is a very romantic book. The relationship between Lily and Rule is very realistic. It's not quite your usual they hate each other, they have sex, they're madly in love plot. In this book, they need each other but they're not really sure they can stand to be together. I am really looking forward to the fourth book. One of my favorite things about the series is that the characters are moving from book to book. I always want more of a good character so I enjoy series that feature the same characters in multiple books.

Lily and Rule book 1.......2007-04-05

While waiting for some of my favorite authors to publish new books, I stumbled across "Tempting Danger" by Eileen Wilks. I love the intriguing cover art, and the summary looked promising.

It exceeded my expectations. The story of Detective Lily Yu and werewolf Prince Rule Turner is a fantastic one. When a man ends up dead, and a werewolf is the suspect, its up to Lily Yu to solve the case. (And up to Rule Turner to keep her from pointing fingers in his direction.)

The chemistry between Lily and Rule is definitely there. Eileen Wilks does a fabulous job of creating the tension. I couldn't put it down! Even better, I wasn't able to solve the mystery before Lily or Rule, which gives this book major points. I hate books where I figure out the answers before the main characters. Plus as soon as I finished, I was eager for more. I fully recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Next is Mortal Danger (Berkley Sensation) followed by Blood Lines (Berkley Sensation).

Not bad, not brill.......2007-03-26

"Tempting Danger" is the first book I've read by Eileen Wilks and although interesting it didn't entirely hit the spot for me.

Lily Yu is a detective investigating a murder that appears to have been committed by a werewolf. Werewolves (lupi) have only recently been accorded some rights; previously they were hunted and killed by the police. However they are still regarded with suspicion and this death doesn't help. It looks like the prime suspect is Rule Turner, the prince of the local werewolf clan, and Lily goes to interview him. However she soon realises that the murder didn't happen as it seems on the surface and that there is some kind of connection between her and Rule. The more they investigate together the more is uncovered - someone in the police department working against them, suspicions amongst the lupi, mistrust of Lily as she seems close to a lupus, an evil female deity trying to take over the world, that kind of thing.

Although billed as a romance in some ways this book wasn't too romantic - the lead characters don't exactly choose to have their relationship and much more attention is paid to the murder and sorcery plot. It's written fairly well and I liked the characters, particularly Lily's grandmother, and the differences between the lupus and human social mores were interesting, but the overall story wasn't enough to completely carry me away into the plot. The big fight at the end was over surprisingly quickly and that was the only real taste of action in the story - the novel was more focused on investigation and plotting. The magical world it was set in had that slight drawback that too many other urban fantasies seem to have these days - peopling the world with every possible type of non-human creature like werewolves, gnomes, sorcerers, banshees, witches, goddesses and the like; the only thing missing in this story seemed to be vampires. It was a pleasant enough read but not exciting enough to entice me to buy another book by this author.

Glad I gave it a try!.......2007-03-21

I thought it was a great story with very interesting characters. Lily is an Asian-American Detective and Rule is the "Prince" of the local werewolf tribe. They're brought together to solve a murder that seems to be caused by a group trying to frame Rule and ultimately destroy all werewolves. Rule and Lily are actually "Chosen." Apparently this is something that rarely happens in the werewolf community, where the "Lady" herself chooses mates for each other.

The story is a sweet romance with lots of action to boot. My only complant was that I found a few slow parts that were difficult to follow what they were talking about.

Intimate Danger (Tempting Faith / Shattered Vows)

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Blaze's Review
Megan's Review

Intimate Danger (Tempting Faith / Shattered Vows)
Susan Mallery , and Rebecca York
Manufacturer: harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 037321734X

Book Description

Two women fighting for their lives . . . and for the men they love.

Susan Mallery
Tempting Faith

Faith Newlin had never experienced trouble at her way station for big cats until the day two endangered tiger cubs appeared -- along with spy Cort Hollenbeck. When Cort, always a loner, experiences blanks in his memory, he has to face his deepest fears and trust a woman who walks on the wild side . . . Soon he and Faith are risking everything to stay together -- and stay alive.

Rebecca York
Shattered Vows
43 Light Street

As maid of honor in her best friend's wedding, Jo O'Malley should have been thrilled. Instead, she was being stalked by someone who seemed to know intimate details of her private life. What she didn't know was he was using technology created by best man Cameron Randolph. A brilliant scientist, Cameron was determined to protect Jo, but he was about to make a terrible mistake: he didn't tell her all he knew.

Customer Reviews:

Blaze's Review.......2004-09-18

This is Blaze and this book was wonderful. At times I could never put it down, and I loved the characters. The great discriptions helped me to learn them, and love them. The Actoin was neverending, and it kept the book all together. The book _Tempting_Faith_ was a great experience, and I hope that all of you enjoyed it as much as I did. Thank you for your time, and I suggest that you read this book, thanks again.

~*~Blaze~*~

(...)

Megan's Review.......2004-09-16

Oh my God... I loved this Book, it was great and I couldn't put it down, I'm only 12 years of age, but that book was great. Neverending action, and great descriptions. I LOVED IT!!! I can't belive that I like it that much. But it wouldn't be good for immature children, this isn't really a book for kids, but I loved it and I would read another book by those athours. (...)

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Intimate Danger: Tempting Faith/Shattered Vows
Susan; York, Rebecca Mallery
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q5VMHE

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Tempting Danger (Berkley Sensation)
Eileen Wilks
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QY5RSA

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