Letter reached her in Wyoming, and she meant to answer it from Red Cloud but father had a heart attack. Better now. Came back to New York day before yesterday to vacate apartment. Putting things in storage. Has cancelled trip to France. Brother Douglass plans to take parents to California this winter. Doesn't suppose people who are used to movies will care for Death Comes for the Archbishop, a book without women. Sorry moviemakers will soon be at Acoma. Willa [Stout #890]
Has no home address, a bad feeling. Please send mail care of Knopf. Archbishop will be out in a few days. Willie [Stout #891]
Has moved out of her apartment and put everything in storage. Neighborhood ruined by subway construction. What does she think of Archbishop? Review in New York World calls it weak as a novel. What is a novel? This is more like a legend. No women but the Virgin Mary. Took joy in doing it. She and Grant Overton were the only two reviewers who liked My Ántonia, and this is even less like a conventional novel. A narrative; something like a folk song. Was to have sailed on the Berengaria yesterday, but cancelled because of her father's illness. Willa Cather [Stout #892]
Came here Tuesday [Sept. 6] with Edith. Both worn out. Hasn't seen copies of Archbishop yet. Willa S. C. [Stout #893]
Pleased he likes the book. Tried to make it a selfless, impersonal sort of book. Willa Cather [Stout #894]
Story closely follows history. Review in the Boston Transcript about a week ago put it well. Willa Cather [Stout #895]
Is glad he liked Archbishop. Most of it quite true. Gathered stories from Mexicans and priests and from Lamy's and Machebeuf's letters home. The letters gave her their personalities. Willa Cather [Stout #898]
Are there instead of in Rome because of father's illness and the effort of moving out of the apartment. Also, Edith's mother had a stroke. What a year! Book seems to be going well. Willa [Stout #900]
Friends must get tired of her writing book after book. Fortunately, they aren't all alike. Was in Wyoming this summer, unable to go abroad because of father's illness. Has moved out of Bank Street. Is enjoying being in Jaffrey, but wishes she still had the pleasure of working on something like Archbishop, which she finished there last year. It's hard, losing that pleasure and losing Bank Street at the same time. Willa Cather [Stout #903]
Has received a copy of America with his review of Archbishop; is pleased by his understanding of what she was doing. Prefers to call it a "historical narrative," though publisher refers to it as a novel because the public understands that term. Glad he realizes purpose was to celebrate the lives of two men of real nobility and their relationship with a place. The story really lay in their engagement with that place. P.S.: Would appreciate his sending her another copy of the journal, to send to her father. Willa Cather [Stout #904]
