MORTE D'URBAN

by J.F. Powers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 14, 1962

The blandly-told but engrossing story of a Catholic priest, parts of this have been published in The Critic, Esquire, Kenyon Review and The New Yorker. The urbane Father Urban, a traveling preacher in the struggling Order of St. Clement, is social, worldly, acceptable as a Babbitt-type businessman. But he is quietly and humorously appalling as a priest. Transferred by his Bishop from a rich parish and a rich businessman, Billy, whom he is cultivating, Father Urban finds himself doing manual labor in an old remote country house, which the Order is trying to turn into a retreat. He starts a golf course to attract ""the right sort of people"", and gets involved in other go-getter schemes. But during a decisive match with the Bishop, Father Urban is knocked out by a golf ball. Convalescing, he changes his stripes. On a fishing trip he dumps the appalling Billy overboard; later, buffeted by a confused evening with a distraught woman, he dreams of the man he could have been. Success comes finally, but too late for Father Urban, tormented now by headaches -- and a sense of humor and humanity. Touching, funny, sophisticated and very real -- this should appeal to Bruce Marshall fans.

Pub Date: Sept. 14, 1962

ISBN: 0940322234

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1962

Categories: FICTION