Book Review: Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather

The journey of two Catholic priests began when they were very young men in France. Now as missionaries in New Mexico, their journeys are often intertwined, but quite separate too. Father Latour aims to build a mighty cathedral in this wild country, where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Sandias loom above the painted desert that is as beautiful as it is unforgiving. “Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here the earth was the floor of the sky.” Father Valliant seeks his own metaphorical cathedral by ministering to the people, giving them faith where little is to be had. Native Americans, Mexicans and all of those who have traveled west to the new frontier come and go, without being aware of their own humanity. All of these people, including the two priests, become greater than human; they are immortal and sublimely divine. The friendship between the two priests seeps powerfully into our consciousness and has its way with our heart and soul. There are many great authors, but few weave exquisite narrative and fascinating characters with dialogue to convey a truth that is a rich and beautiful pageant of an extreme way life. Ochre and yellow, half shades of green between the sea and groves of olives, old, old tamarisks, and the rainbow flowers of quivering red tubes, Willa Cather conjures New Mexico as a dream that turns out to be true. This tender book shows us what love is without ever once mentioning the word love. It captures the beauty of the people without sugarcoating what is horrible or cruel. This masterpiece is one of the top five best books I have read; the beauty of humanity triumphs in a profound story of love.