Thank you for this bio of Willa Cather, Matthew. I enjoyed it immensely :) What a woman! I love that she spent all those years with the person she wanted to be with, defying the accepted norms of the time. Her output is phenomenal!
Kate - thanks! She was rather amazing and I have really enjoyed her work. I think my own connection to the rural places of the midwest calls to me in her writing.
A nice introduction to Willa Cather. I first discovered Cather as a college sophomore and followed that interest to a PhD. If you've not discovered the Willa Cather Archive, it is a wonderful repository of her works, scholarship about her works, and many other primary research materials, such as her letters and photographs.
While Cather hated political activism, her work is unavoidably political. Certainly her racism complicates contemporary readings. But there is no doubt that she was a political conservative, and this sensibility shapes works like Death Comes for the Archbishop and Shadows on the Rock.
One factual correction: Cather died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
One of my favorite Cather novels is Lucy Gayheart. It's a lesser known work, but still resonates deeply. Here is one of my essays about it.
Joshua - Appreciate you pointing me in the direction of these resources. I will definitely check these out. While doing my research I found conflicting accounts of how she died. Several places said cerebral hemorrhage, others said cancer. The National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud listed her cause of death as cancer so I went with that! I should probably have listed both since I found conflicting accounts. I appreciate you sharing your essay as well. I haven't read that work yet but will do so and read your thoughts on it. Thanks again!
My primary source for factual details is James Woodress's scholarly biography, which is searchable on the Cather Archive. Woodress's interpretations of Cather's works haven't aged terribly well, but his care with primary materials has:
I don't think I was ready for Willa Cather when I first encountered her in high school. You've inspired me to go back! Really interesting about the way she played with gender roles. Thank you, Matthew!
Kate - thanks for reading. I honestly am not sure if I would have "got it" when I was in high school. Some authors are better read with a little life experience under our belts. I have enjoyed reading her works and exploring her life.
I grew up about an hour's drive from Red Cloud, so it was inevitable that we would read Willa Cather's work. Whenever the subject of Nebraskan authors came up, it was bound to be Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, or John G. Neihardt. I honestly got a little burned out on O Pioneers! after having to read it for three or four different classes in high school and college, but I read it again a few years ago and appreciated the way she wrote about the land and the weather, though I can't say that I care for the ending.
Kim - I know exactly how you feel! I grew up 20 minutes from Hannibal, Missouri, the home of Mark Twain. We had to read all his works so many times during school that it is hard for me to even look at one of this works now. Fortunately there are an abundance of authors to go around so we can continue exploring. Maybe one of these days I will come back to Mark Twain?
Dixie - how wonderful to have such a great author as your favorite. I fell in love with her writing when I read O Pioneers. Really glad to have the opportunity learn more about her through writing this article.
I recently discovered that her childhood home in Virginia is quite near where I live -- only about 30 minutes from here. I was fascinated to read about this region a couple of years ago in Sapphira and the Slave Girl, a very complicated novel on a sensitive topic.
I have enjoyed reading new-to-me works by her throughout my life. The first book I read by her was My Antonia, when I was about 10 or 11. Each new discovery is a joy.
She wrote my favorite short story, 'Neighbor Rosicky." Have you come across that one yet?
Of course, Cather couldn't protect her work from being adapted from film or television after her death, and some of it has, with better results than the failed "Lost Lady" project.
True, I think there were movies made of O Pioneers and My Antonia. I haven't seen them or heard much about them. I think copyright laws didn't exist until the 1970s or so protecting work after death.
I love the notion that writers, and perhaps many creatives, have acquired most of their material—themes, even?—by their adolescent years. I can see this pattern in my own work. Age and a little wisdom gained along the way provide vision and tools to undo the knots in those life threads.
So happy to see this! My Antonia was the first book I ever stayed up all night reading. I was 14. She was a Classics major at University of Nebraska! My mother (b. 1921) was from her part of the country.
Elizabeth - glad you enjoyed it. I really loved My Antonia and O Pioneers. I am from northern Missouri so she was not too far from where I grew up as well. Beautiful country.
Thank you for this biography, what an interesting and fascinating life she led. I listen to books while cleaning and I just finished my Antonia recently, I really loved it. Thanks again.
Very interesting. I did read My Antonia a while back and recognised that it was something unusual but I wasn't quite sure what I made of it. I'm interested in the stipulation in her will, no adaptations. Does that still hold? And what a portrait it paints of how she felt about her work..the only thing I care what happens to after my death are my children. Her books were her children
Sarah - copyright laws were not very well formed prior to the 1970s so I am not sure how much legal standing her will would have had. In the 1990s there were two movies made of her works, My Antonia and O Pioneers. I am unfamiliar with any other adaptations.
This is a wonderful introduction to Willa Cather, Matthew - you really bring her to life through her own words too, including 'Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness.' Extraordinary. I don't know her novels at all, so I am grateful for your words and it's probably better to read her novels now rather than at school, which might have spoiled them. Thanks too for the mention of my Eileen Power post and for recommending my publication - I'm honoured.
Ann - I am not sure I would have understood her work much when I was younger. I feel like she is one of those authors who work is better appreciated with age. Glad you enjoyed the article and always glad to recommend quality writing. All the best.
I’ve never read anything by Willa Cather - she is not, perhaps, so well known in Australia. But you paint a picture of a fascinating person and writer!
Monique - you raise an interesting point how some authors are critically important to the literary scene of their country but not well known outside. At the same time, some authors seem universal. I wonder why that is? I have found that most readers outside of the U.S. are not as familiar with her writing.
Thank you for this bio of Willa Cather, Matthew. I enjoyed it immensely :) What a woman! I love that she spent all those years with the person she wanted to be with, defying the accepted norms of the time. Her output is phenomenal!
Kate - thanks! She was rather amazing and I have really enjoyed her work. I think my own connection to the rural places of the midwest calls to me in her writing.
A nice introduction to Willa Cather. I first discovered Cather as a college sophomore and followed that interest to a PhD. If you've not discovered the Willa Cather Archive, it is a wonderful repository of her works, scholarship about her works, and many other primary research materials, such as her letters and photographs.
https://cather.unl.edu/
While Cather hated political activism, her work is unavoidably political. Certainly her racism complicates contemporary readings. But there is no doubt that she was a political conservative, and this sensibility shapes works like Death Comes for the Archbishop and Shadows on the Rock.
One factual correction: Cather died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
One of my favorite Cather novels is Lucy Gayheart. It's a lesser known work, but still resonates deeply. Here is one of my essays about it.
https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/how-do-you-know-if-your-eureka-moments
Joshua - Appreciate you pointing me in the direction of these resources. I will definitely check these out. While doing my research I found conflicting accounts of how she died. Several places said cerebral hemorrhage, others said cancer. The National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud listed her cause of death as cancer so I went with that! I should probably have listed both since I found conflicting accounts. I appreciate you sharing your essay as well. I haven't read that work yet but will do so and read your thoughts on it. Thanks again!
My primary source for factual details is James Woodress's scholarly biography, which is searchable on the Cather Archive. Woodress's interpretations of Cather's works haven't aged terribly well, but his care with primary materials has:
https://cather.unl.edu/life/woodress
Cather was a smoker, but I know of no mention of cancer in any of the biographies I've read.
But that is a footnote to a solid biography! The National Willa Cather Center is well worth a visit.
Thank you. Thoughtful and inspiring
Susan - thanks for the kind words.
What a wonderful profile. I’ve never read Cather, but she’s on my list this year. Looking forward to it—and more so now.
Thanks Joel - coming from you that means a lot!
I don't think I was ready for Willa Cather when I first encountered her in high school. You've inspired me to go back! Really interesting about the way she played with gender roles. Thank you, Matthew!
Kate - thanks for reading. I honestly am not sure if I would have "got it" when I was in high school. Some authors are better read with a little life experience under our belts. I have enjoyed reading her works and exploring her life.
I grew up about an hour's drive from Red Cloud, so it was inevitable that we would read Willa Cather's work. Whenever the subject of Nebraskan authors came up, it was bound to be Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, or John G. Neihardt. I honestly got a little burned out on O Pioneers! after having to read it for three or four different classes in high school and college, but I read it again a few years ago and appreciated the way she wrote about the land and the weather, though I can't say that I care for the ending.
Kim - I know exactly how you feel! I grew up 20 minutes from Hannibal, Missouri, the home of Mark Twain. We had to read all his works so many times during school that it is hard for me to even look at one of this works now. Fortunately there are an abundance of authors to go around so we can continue exploring. Maybe one of these days I will come back to Mark Twain?
I hope you will. In my opinion,Huckleberry Finn is the best novel about America ever written.
Last year I read "One of Ours" and disliked the ending in a way similar to the novel "Cold Mountain."
I read Will Cather years ago, and you have brought her to life with biographical details I didn’t know. This is a great tribute to her!
Diane - thanks for reading and I am glad you enjoyed it. I really had a good time writing this piece and learning about her. Such an interesting life.
My favorite author, among whose works there are always new discoveries to be made.
Dixie - how wonderful to have such a great author as your favorite. I fell in love with her writing when I read O Pioneers. Really glad to have the opportunity learn more about her through writing this article.
I recently discovered that her childhood home in Virginia is quite near where I live -- only about 30 minutes from here. I was fascinated to read about this region a couple of years ago in Sapphira and the Slave Girl, a very complicated novel on a sensitive topic.
I have enjoyed reading new-to-me works by her throughout my life. The first book I read by her was My Antonia, when I was about 10 or 11. Each new discovery is a joy.
She wrote my favorite short story, 'Neighbor Rosicky." Have you come across that one yet?
I actually have not read any of her short stories. I have them on my list to read but just haven't got to them yet. I will check that one out though.
I'd lvoe to hear what you think if you have a chance to read it.
I also became an admirer after reading O Pioneers. The bio you've done here is well done, too. Learned some new things about Cather!
Glenn - thank you for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it.
Of course, Cather couldn't protect her work from being adapted from film or television after her death, and some of it has, with better results than the failed "Lost Lady" project.
True, I think there were movies made of O Pioneers and My Antonia. I haven't seen them or heard much about them. I think copyright laws didn't exist until the 1970s or so protecting work after death.
I love the notion that writers, and perhaps many creatives, have acquired most of their material—themes, even?—by their adolescent years. I can see this pattern in my own work. Age and a little wisdom gained along the way provide vision and tools to undo the knots in those life threads.
Maria - I found this to be a really intriguing idea also, that we draw upon a well of influence and experience from our youth. Fascinating really.
So happy to see this! My Antonia was the first book I ever stayed up all night reading. I was 14. She was a Classics major at University of Nebraska! My mother (b. 1921) was from her part of the country.
Elizabeth - glad you enjoyed it. I really loved My Antonia and O Pioneers. I am from northern Missouri so she was not too far from where I grew up as well. Beautiful country.
Thank you for this biography, what an interesting and fascinating life she led. I listen to books while cleaning and I just finished my Antonia recently, I really loved it. Thanks again.
Glad you enjoyed it Jenn. Thanks for reading.
Very interesting. I did read My Antonia a while back and recognised that it was something unusual but I wasn't quite sure what I made of it. I'm interested in the stipulation in her will, no adaptations. Does that still hold? And what a portrait it paints of how she felt about her work..the only thing I care what happens to after my death are my children. Her books were her children
Sarah - copyright laws were not very well formed prior to the 1970s so I am not sure how much legal standing her will would have had. In the 1990s there were two movies made of her works, My Antonia and O Pioneers. I am unfamiliar with any other adaptations.
This is a wonderful introduction to Willa Cather, Matthew - you really bring her to life through her own words too, including 'Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness.' Extraordinary. I don't know her novels at all, so I am grateful for your words and it's probably better to read her novels now rather than at school, which might have spoiled them. Thanks too for the mention of my Eileen Power post and for recommending my publication - I'm honoured.
Ann - I am not sure I would have understood her work much when I was younger. I feel like she is one of those authors who work is better appreciated with age. Glad you enjoyed the article and always glad to recommend quality writing. All the best.
I’ve never read anything by Willa Cather - she is not, perhaps, so well known in Australia. But you paint a picture of a fascinating person and writer!
Monique - you raise an interesting point how some authors are critically important to the literary scene of their country but not well known outside. At the same time, some authors seem universal. I wonder why that is? I have found that most readers outside of the U.S. are not as familiar with her writing.
I have not read Willa Cather but look forward to reading her now as you have sparked my interest.
Linda - glad to spark your interest here and hope you enjoy her work as much as I have.