Death Comes For the Archbishop

In the eighth grade I was entranced by Willa Cather's My Antonia and though I always meant to read more of her works I haven't. Then a few months ago my mother gave me Death Comes For the Archbishop. From the title one might think it is about a man facing death but that is not what this book is at all. It is the life of two priests arriving 1851 New Mexico in 1851. The chapters are like a collection of fictional essays of the priests forty years of living with and learning about the people of the Southwest. It is easy to forget this is a work of fiction as the characters and scenery come to life. I kept expecting there to be some sort of struggle, maybe the priests question their faith or confront some inner demons but none of that happens. It's simply a book chronicling the days of Bishop Latour and Father Vaillant. In spreading their faith throughout the sparsely inhabited land they meet many interesting people and view a wondrous countryside. The writing is some of the most beautiful literature I've read. I felt like I have had my own journey through late nineteenth century New Mexico. It's not a gripping story but it's a book I could see myself reading again a few years down the line and see completely new passages I hadn't noticed before. I highly recommend Death Comes For the Archbishop for a relaxing read and hope to not go so long again before visiting another work by Willa Cather.