Death Comes For The Archbishop (VMC) by Cather - Willa (2006) Paperback

A beautiful story! 2 priests come to Santa Fe and encounter challenges but from the native people and the environment. They both learn how to become part of New Mexico in their own way, in the end both leaving a mark on the people and the landscape

This is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction. The story is compelling and the characters compelling. A great way to soak in a bit of New Mexico before or after a visit. Cather has a way of describing a landscape that paints it before your eyes and places you right there. Also recommend My Antonia.

As a native Nebraskan, I might have been expected to be familiar with Cather, whom we claim as our own (with schools and libraries named after her). But this is the first of her works I have read. It reads wonderfully and projects a sense of place and time that is just about un-matched in literature. It is essentially plotless, which I hadn't expected, but it captures a part of our history and of our country in a way that puts the reader into the times and the scene in surprising ways. Literally hard to put down, once begun.

This is an American classic. If you are an American, you owe it to yourself to read Willa Cather. As a resident of the Southwest, this book should be required. Ms. Cather's descriptions of the people and the landscapes that I love in New Mexico are so vivid that her prose brought me to tears. I could see in my mind the exact colors and feel the weather as I read. I see those landscapes now in my travels, and they still look like Ms. Cather's descriptions.

The novel was beautifully descriptive. Willa Cather is masterful at evoking a clear picture of the setting; She brings the area to life. Her characters are interesting and well developed. The plot however, simply meanders. There is no clear progression from an inciting moment to denouement. It follows the life of the Archbishop, but unless one is Catholic or a devotee of the Southwest, it does not grab and hold the reader's interest.

Willa Cather is a master at describing a place, a house, the desert, anything, and you feel like you're there. Living as I do in the Southwest I was enthralled with her view of the NM desert, especially. I sort of lost which priest was which at times and was a little disappointed that there wasn't more action, but overall enjoyed it.

This book has been recommended to me many times, and I have finally read it. Well worth reading. The language is beautiful. Willa Cather paints images with words. She has captured the splendor of the New Mexico landscape as well as the interactions of the various groups living there in the 1850s. I would love to hear this one read out loud... the imagery is so vivid and poetic.

Read this book because a friend recommended it before a trip to Santa Fe. I liked the historical setting and will be looking for some of the features mentioned in the book. Not being Catholic and not knowing French, I was a little lost in some parts of the book.

Ms. Cather had an intimate knowledge of the Southwest region and she used a diary left by the actual priest (Lamy) who is the title character, the Archbishop Latour. I doubt a more beautiful description of the American frontier of 1850 has been written. She can spin a story based on historical truth that is nearly impossible to set aside...her artistry rivals other authors of her era.

The story, the setting and the style of this book are unique and, to me, different from other Willa Cather books I love. If you have an interest in the Southwest, you will enjoy it for the history and landscape, but the story itself is compelling with scenes over the lifetime of a Catholic priest in New Mexico. Love, human interest, true crime, native American stories, a supernatural incident of Father Serra's, how a cathedral can be built with local materials, etc. etc.

I read tihs book for the gorgeous setting, before embarking on a trip to the Santa Fe/Taos area. It is, as they say, a major character in the book. Yet the plot seemed tedious and the writing, belabored. I can see why it's so often assigned in high school, but the portraits of the priests took more stick-to-itiveness than I otherwise would have given this.

I believe I downloaded it for pretty cheap, it worked fine and the text seemed to be in order. I had read the story in college and wanted to revisit. The book is permeated by a sense of thanksgiving and beauty, which makes it very peaceful to read. A cynical reader might say that the book is overly idealistic. In some sense that might be true, but I've known missionaries that remind me very much of the characters and events in this story, so I think the story is honest.

Outstanding evocation of early catholic life in New Mexico - the forces of the sophisticated church life and traditions of French religion, the passionate Spanish/Mexican influence, indigenous Indian deeply held superstitions and the new world of burgeoning America meet in the beautifully portrayed personalities.a

This book, in particular, shows her capacity for pairing psychological and geographical landscape. The priests are contrasted; the recognition of how we are both good and not so good but still valuable; and how death becomes a flow for those in old age. I think Pope Francis might find something appealing here.

Having spent many years with family all over New Mexico ,I could almost feel the dust and the smells that I only get there. Santa Fe and the cathedral in the center of the old Santa Fe are much the same as in her story . My first visit was in 1945 .
I found the story moving in the devotion of the Archbishop and his disappointment in the " men of God" that took advantage of their position for their worldly gain.

A word painting of the growth of the Southwest. Cather presents a political landscape without judgment. The harsh countryside and rugged lifestyle is a backdrop for missionary assignments. The characters manage, regardless of their background. A caring emerges. Willa Cather tasks the reader with deciding the full meaning of her word painting.

Enjoyable read. Miss Cather's descriptions of early New Mexico is "spot on" and evokes the imagery of a landscape I am familiar with. I was transported to the era and found the story quite engaging. Knowing the true identities of the Bishop & Archbishop made the story, though a little fictionalized, more interesting. Will read more of her books.

It's an interesting book. Not dramatic by any means. But it is a beautifully told story of the life of the religious in the 19th century southwest United States. While not a page turner, I am better for having read it.

New Mexico soul touches me deeply. I will drive 500 miles just to see a sight. Caught within these pages are descriptions and definitions that electrify my love, my memories of a place of great spirit. To me, this is magic.

This historical novel gives insight into the immigrant experience of Catholic missionaries in the American Southwest, the Roman Catholic Chruch's part in the founding of the West, and the conditions and treatment of missionary Indians. I didn't care for Ms. Cather's treatment of Kit Carson. I felt she was very generous in describing him. Otherwise, I believe this story holds up well and gives us a better understanding of how the West was won.

I just vacationed in the area of New Mexico where this novel is set. Enjoyed the history in the novel, and placing the events in the spots I visited. For anyone touring Santa Fe and Albuquerque, this would help understand the various cultures that inhabited the area over the years.

Wonderfully told story or an archbishop's wondrous journey into an hostile land, incorporating hardship, ardor, wonder, exploration, unwavering faith in service to humanity, and his ultimate acceptance of the great good he has accomplished. The land changes him, but not more than he has transformed the changing culture of the land. Beautifully concise expository prose, economical dialogue, and well researched journalistic style.

This historical novel gives insight into the immigrant experience of Catholic missionaries in the American Southwest, the Roman Catholic Chruch's part in the founding of the West, and the conditions and treatment of missionary Indians. I didn't care for Ms. Cather's treatment of Kit Carson. I felt she was very generous in describing him. Otherwise, I believe this story holds up well and gives us a better understanding of how the West was won.

I just vacationed in the area of New Mexico where this novel is set. Enjoyed the history in the novel, and placing the events in the spots I visited. For anyone touring Santa Fe and Albuquerque, this would help understand the various cultures that inhabited the area over the years.

Wonderfully told story or an archbishop's wondrous journey into an hostile land, incorporating hardship, ardor, wonder, exploration, unwavering faith in service to humanity, and his ultimate acceptance of the great good he has accomplished. The land changes him, but not more than he has transformed the changing culture of the land. Beautifully concise expository prose, economical dialogue, and well researched journalistic style.

I reread this reality- based novel about the nineteenth century Catholic missionaries who worked in what is now New Mexico before visiting Albuquerque and Santa Rosa recently. When we drove and looked out of the car windows, everything except the road itself, looked as it had in Willa Cather's novel. It was inspiring to meet with the devoted members of the parish in Santa Rosa, some of whose ancestors had been baptized by Father Lamy, the original 'archbishop' in the title.

Cather perfectly captures the unique New Mexican landscape. She even manages to bring the light alive. And her presentations of characters are vividly portrayed, from the saintly archbishop, to his earthy assistant priest, to the Navajo Eusabio with his connection to the land. It's a perfect book--perhaps the best one about the early church and its influences on the development of the New Mexican territory.

A powerful tale of two young and idealistic French priests who come to the New World to carry out their duties. Amidst the turbulent times these two priests maintain a deep and abiding friendship as well as faith in man and God as they advance into old age. Moving, utterly moving! One of Willa Cather's best!

Good read, full of imagery, but somewhat slow moving. Willa Cather creates a great picture of the southwest and the hardships of establishing the religious order there, but characterization is a little lacking. I liked it but didn't love it.

Beautifully written book about Santa Fe area as seen from the eyes of a wise, holy, and courageous French priest in the 1800's. Descriptions of people and landscapes so well done that Willa Cather might have written it yesterday!

This is a historical novel based on a true story. It's about a Jesuit priest who became the archbishop of what is currently New Mexico. It expressed the dynamics that were shaping the culture - European, Mexican, Native American and American. It was a very enjoyable book.

Helps to understand why New Mexico clings to its charming slow paced style of living!! Loved it! I am a descendant of Padre Martinez, and even though he is portrayed in a very negative manner, I simply adore this read.