Coming Soon – Review of MORTE D’URBAN
Posted on March 13th, 2010
After I made several earlier attempts in past years (false-starts) to read J. F. Powers’ MORTE D’URBAN (when, for reasons not related to the quality of the book, I had to set it aside without finishing it), I am now well on my way into reading and finishing what I am beginning to regard as one of the most intriguing and important novels of the 20th century. I will have more to say about the novel in a few days,when I have given it more thought, but for now, here is a bit of a tease in the form a preview of the review:
When fifty-four year old Father Urban is reassigned from Chicago to a rural retreat in Minnesota, he is forced by environment, personalities, and circumstances to reevaluate his role as priest in the Order of St. Clement. Within days of his arrival in Minnesota, this is his experience: Another priest at the retreat points out the geese flying above. “‘Canadian honkers! [ . . . ] See how they follow the leader!’ And this, when Father Urban thought about it, as he did that night in bed, was the most disturbing thing [the other priest] had said all day.“
So, the question becomes complicated: What is so disturbing about such a seemingly innocuous comment? The answer(s) to that question become the the key(s) the thematic power of J. F. Powers’ exceptional novel, MORTE D’URBAN.
Yet, here is another question: Will my enthusiasm for this novel up to this point be justified upon completing the reading?
TO BE CONTINUED
Tags: 20th Century, Attempts, Circumstances, Few Days, Geese, J F Powers, Novel, Novels, Personalities, Rural Retreat, St Clement, Tease
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