This is the sixth book by Willa Cather which I’ve read and as usual I wasn’t disappointed in fact I really enjoyed it, the only trouble is it was all over too quickly for me, it is a very short book, a novella I suppose. Somewhow I’ve managed to read her books completely out of order, I should have started with this one.
It wasn’t exactly what I expected it to be, as that word ‘pioneer’ always makes me think of Little House on the Prairie and patchwork quilts, but this book isn’t exactly all sugar sweet and towards the end it did take an unexpected twist, as far as I was concerned anyway.
The story begins in Nebraska with Alexandra and her very youngest brother Emil visiting the nearest town to ask the doctor to visit their father who is ill. Alexandra knows that her father isn’t going to get better, her father has already accepted his situation and spends what little time he has left ‘stocktaking’ adding up how much he will be leaving for his family in the way of land and goods.
He makes Alexandra promise never to sell any of the land, the improvement of which has really curtailed his lifetime, he knows that given the chance, his two remaining older sons would sell up and go back to Chicago.
Alexandra takes over the business side of the farm, she learns all she can from other farmers in different districts and makes a great success of everything, but in the meantime her older brothers don’t see her as a separate human being at all, as far as they are concerned she is there just to be a cornerstone of the family but should have no ambitions for herself outside it.
So that’s a brief bit of Alexandra’s story but there are so many likeable characters, even the spoiled and petted Marie is adored by Alexandra, who always seems to see the best in people, but her innocence and friendliness have unexpected consequences.
I know, I’ve already said it, but I wanted this book to continue, because I was right there, in that red land where farming was just beginning to be mechanised but women still enjoyed making their own aprons and embroidering intricate cross stitch designs on them, as well as being businesswomen. For me Willa Cather strikes a perfect balance, description-wise, whether it’s the landscape, houses or people’s clothes and jewellery.
I downloaded this book from Project Gutenberg, I’m sure you’ve already read it but just in case you haven’t, you can get it here.
How interesting. I just read another review of this book and that blogger liked the book a lots also. Although I don’t usually read outside of the mystery genre, I am trying to expand my horizons. I will put this on a To Read list.
TracyK,
I hope you do give it a go, it’s a very short book so it won’t take you long and although there’s no mystery involved, there is a bit of madness.
You’ve read more Willa Cather than I have, but this is one of my favorites, too. Her characters are so real and her descriptions of the land take you right there.
Joan,
I want to read them all eventually, I love her descriptions and it’s also tempting to read such short novels, I’m working up to another Trollope, that’ll take me a while to get through! I’ve just emailed you.
I don’t know if it’s available in the UK, but there’s a great and sobering 2-part Ken Burns documentary about the Dust Bowl. It’s basically the same area where O Pioneers! takes place, although a couple of decades later. It graphically depicts the struggles of the American mid-western farmers and towns in the early 1900’s.
Got your e-mail. Thanks.
Joan,
I’ve heard about that one and seen a documentary but I’m not absolutely sure it was that one. All very Steinbeck and a sad, depressing time, especially surprising that so many other states didn’t seem to have much sympathy for their fellow Americans. I hope it would be different nowadays.
I haven’t read Cather yet. I need to get to this one, soon.
Mabel,
I’ve had a look at your long list of the books which you have read recently, very interesting. I hope you enjoy Cather when you get around to reading her. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I absolutely love Willa Cather and have this one on the list for 2013. I especially love her novels set in the west and in farming communities. It’s nice reading about something that is familiar to me. Someday, I’d like to read all of her novels.
Anbolyn,
It seems that I like any ‘west’ best, even when it isn’t one at all familiar to me. I think I’m about half-way through her output of novels now, I might set myself a challenge to read the rest over this year!
Your post reminds me that I must read more Willa Cather! I haven’t read this one. Actually, at the moment I can’t recall which ones I have read. I’d like to read The Professor’s House, I think. Maybe I’ll put it on my list.
Hope you are enjoying 2013! How is your weather?
Judith
Judith,
I enjoyed The Professor’s House but if you haven’t already read it you should try One of Ours, she won the Pullitzer for that I think.
2013 has been so much drier than 2012 already, it seemed to rain every day last year, and it has been very mild, so we are all saying – we’ll pay for it’ – in that Presbyterian way! It’s getting colder now though and snow is forecast for some places this weekend. I hope you and Ken are doing fine!