by J. F. Powers
First published 1979
Father Urban Roche arrives at his new parish assignment with grand ambitions but finds himself trapped between diocesan politics and his own weaknesses. The aging priest struggles with younger colleagues who challenge his methods while parishioners present him with moral dilemmas that have no clean solutions. In the rectory, conversations turn tense over dinner as different generations of clergy clash over tradition and change. Urban watches his carefully constructed image crumble when a scandal threatens to expose secrets he thought buried. Other priests in the collection face similar reckonings. Father Burner battles alcoholism while trying to maintain his authority. A young curate discovers that his idealism means little when confronted with the messy realities of human nature. These men of God find themselves questioning not just their vocations but their fundamental understanding of right and wrong. The stories reveal how even those called to serve others can be consumed by pride, ambition, and self-doubt.
Genres: drama, christian-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary-romance, catholic
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, generational-conflict, moral-dilemma
Period: 20th-century
344 pages · Paperback · Vintage Books
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse, mental-illness