BKMT READING GUIDES

Willa Cather: O Pioneers!
by Willa Cather

Published: 2010-06-11
Paperback : 114 pages
0 members reading this now
1 club reading this now
0 members have read this book
Willa Cather published "O Pioneers!" in 1913 at the age of 40. Together with "My Antonia," "O Pioneers!" is the novel for which Cather is best known. The story in "O Pioneers!" takes place on the plains of Nebraska in the late 19th century. During that time, the prairie was settled by Swedish, ...
No other editions available.
Add to Club Selections
Add to Possible Club Selections
Add to My Personal Queue
Jump to

Introduction

Willa Cather published "O Pioneers!" in 1913 at the age of 40. Together with "My Antonia," "O Pioneers!" is the novel for which Cather is best known. The story in "O Pioneers!" takes place on the plains of Nebraska in the late 19th century. During that time, the prairie was settled by Swedish, Bohemian, and French immigrants trying to eke out a living from a harsh and often inhospitable land. The heroine of "O Pioneers!" is Alexandra Bergson, who inherits her father's farm as a young woman, raises his three sons and stays with the farm through the harsh times to become a successful landowner and farmer. "O Pioneers!" speaks of being wedded to the land and to place. In this sense it is an instance of the American dream of a home. It speaks of a strong woman, and is a story as well of thwarted love, of the difficult nature of sexuality, and of human passion. There is also the beginning of what in Cather's works will become an increased sense of religion, Catholicism in particular, as a haven and a solace for the sorrow she finds at the heart of human endeavor. Above all it is a picture of stark life in the Midwest. There is almost as much blood-letting in "O Pioneers!" as in an Elizabethan tragedy. Willa Cather's picture of American life on the plains, even in her earliest books, is not an easy or simple one. Though some readers may quarrel with the seemingly happy ending of the book, none will deny that Alexandra's happiness is both bittersweet and dearly bought. Overall, "O Pioneers!" is a thoughtful, well written story of immigrant life on the plains and of the sorrow pain, and strength of the American experience.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

No discussion questions at this time.

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book
MEMBER LOGIN
Remember me
BECOME A MEMBER it's free

Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.

SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES Search
Search
FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...