The Eternal Footman

The Eternal Footman by James Morrow is a First Edition published by Harcourt in 2000, featuring 359 pages in English. This book completes Morrow’s darkly comic trilogy centered on the theme of God’s untimely demise, presenting a narrative where God’s skull orbits the Earth, leading to a widespread plague of “death awareness” across the Western hemisphere. Amidst an apocalyptic backdrop, the story follows two main characters, Nora Burkhart, a determined schoolteacher, and Gerard Korty, a genius sculptor, as they strive to preserve life and sanity in a crumbling society.

Readers will encounter a blend of fantasy and science fiction elements, with action and adventure woven throughout the plot. The narrative includes vivid scenes such as a bloody confrontation on a New Jersey golf course and a theater troupe’s dramatization of the Gilgamesh epic, alongside philosophical debates that enrich the story’s depth. Morrow introduces a chilling antagonist, Dr. Adrian Lucido, who leads a new pagan church in Mexico and creates a cure that poses a greater threat than the diseases it aims to combat. This edition offers a unique exploration of existential themes through a richly imaginative lens.