Death Comes for the Archbishop

By: Willa Cather

Narrated by: David Ackroyd

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of the most highly acclaimed novelists of the twentieth century—"a truly remarkable book" (The New York Times), an epic—almost mythic—story of a single human life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert.

In 1851, Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows—gently, all the while contending with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Out of these events, Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.

©2014 Willa Cather (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A truly remarkable book . . . Soaked through and through with atmosphere . . . From the riches of her imagination and sympathy Miss Cather has distilled a very rare piece of literature. It stands out, from the very resistance it opposes to classification.” --The New York Times

"The most sensuous of writers, Willa Cather builds her imagined world as solidly as our five senses build the uiverse around us.” —Rebecca West

“[Cather’s] descriptions of the Indian mesa towns on the rock are as beautiful, as unjudging, as lucid, as her descriptions of the Bishop’s cathedral. It is an art of ‘making,’ of clear depiction—of separate objects, whose whole effect works slowly and mysteriously in the reader, and cannot be summed up. . . . Cather’s composed acceptance of mystery is a major, and rare, artistic achievement.” —from the Introduction to the Everyman's Library edition by A. S. Byatt

Amazing book

I live in Taos, NM, and this is a very interesting story. regardless of whether you've been to the SW United States, this one is worth your time.

Relaxing and picturesque story

Willa Cather's story of two Roman Catholic priests working in the south west paints a vivid picture of the people and places they encounter along their way. The narrator's voice is soothing and brings the characters to life.

Don't expect a sweeping epic like My Antonia

This is Willa Cather, so you know it's going to be remarkable, but it is not a sweeping epic. it is a serious of short accounts of the lives of Catholic priests and bishops in New Mexico. Beautiful writing and well-narrated. A pleasure to listen to, but it will not get you as emotionally invested as some of her other works.

National treasure

Willa Cather is a National Treasure. This book is one of her best. Stories within stories. History and poetry. New Mexico landscape.

Beautiful story

The story was very pleasant and enjoyable. The narrator is very talented and has a very soothing voice.

Loved it!

Savored it to the end and didn’t want it to be over. Great story based on true events.

Listening to a classic

Not having time to read this classic, I am so glad I could listen to it. I will now go and find time to read it. The audio brought it to life for me.

Historical depiction of a new frontier, New Mexico

Wonderful historical depiction of New Mexico, Presented in a way that is very easy to understand. excellent writing.

A Great Trading of A Great Book

I waited for years for someone to record this beautiful, elegiac book about friendship, faith, and the enchanted lands of New Mexico and the Southwest. I could not ask for a better version. Thank you.

Beautiful story

I loved this story. Wonderfully narrated. It shows the hardships and dedication of those who settled here.