(Amazon sent me some sort of special edition - high school yearbook size - printed a few years back by the Southwest Indian Foundation (whatever that is). This permitted the photos to be much larger and of course way more compelling than normal.)
This book is a delight.
Willa Cather of course used Lamy's life as the source material for "Death Comes to the Archbishop," a book I very much enjoy (and occasionally re-read). This actual biography might even be better. I first read it in the 1990s (before keeping notes on stuff I read). Horgan won a Pulitzer for this. It's remarkable how much the novel tracks the history.
PJ and I visited this area in the 1990s and can't wait to go back. Historically unique, geographically blessed.
Lamy as the first archbishop in Santa Fe - appointed shortly after New Mexico is acquired via conquest from Mexico. It's 1851 when Lamy arrives in Santa Fe - relatively "modern" in so many parts of the US - yet Santa Fe as so backward in those days. Long isolated even from its former bishop way down in Durango; much more Mexican than American, but distinct from both.
The scenes prior to reaching New Mexico are compelling. Lamy (with lifelong companion Machebeuf) in France. Working in "forest parishes" in Ohio - mid-19th century yet primitive in many ways. His passage down the Mississippi enroute to Santa Fe - slaves.
Gives a feel for the challenges of travel - to Santa Fe - but even moreso as he goes to Mexico, back to Europe, and through his huge diocese.
The state of the local clergy upon his arrival - so few, so unsupervised - Cather not exaggerating those stories.
I'd guess this kind of book is out of fashion these days - centered around US imperialism, white conquest, etc. - not sure - I'd also wager that it remains highly useful as a way of learning about, thinking about the Southwest.
Highly recommended.
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