DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP by Willa Cather
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As a young man, the French priest Father Latour was assigned as a missionary to the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over the course of his life, he served the diverse community, learning much about the Mexicans, Indians, and Americans who lived there and striving to help the poor, spread the faith, and work for justice.
This Willa Cather classic is a work of fiction based on the life of the real French bishop of Santa Fe. Laid out as a series of vignettes about different people and circumstances, the story provides a beautifully written, poetic glimpse into a romanticized Old West.
Written in the early 20th century, the book contains prejudicial language and ideas about the various Latino and American Indian populations, some of which are less common today. Since Cather (and her characters) are trying to understand and respect the people and cultures she writes about, it provides an interesting historical perspective on race relations during the late 19th and early 20th century–and forces today’s white readers who believe themselves to be enlightened and tolerant to examine their own language and behavior for unwitting prejudice.
Although it is short, don’t expect this to be a quick read! The rich, dense prose deserves to be savored. Fortunately, the vignette formate makes it easy to read in bite-sized chunks.
Susan the Librarian 