Showing results by author "Willa Cather" in All Categories

Through Jim Burden's endearing, smitten voice, we revisit the remarkable vicissitudes of immigrant life in the Nebraska heartland, with all its insistent bonds. Guiding the way are some of literature's most beguiling characters: the Russian brothers plagued by memories of a fateful sleigh ride, Antonia's desperately homesick father and self-indulgent mother, and the coy Lena Lingard. Holding the pastoral society's heart, of course, is the bewitching, free-spirited Antonia.

Sadness can be about so many things from places to people, from thoughts to actions. Our classic authors including Arnold Bennett, James Joyce, Willa Cather, Joseph Conrad, Ivan Turgenev and many others use their pens and stories to demonstrate the many ways this feeling can take a hold of lives and its consequences.

From one of the most highly acclaimed novelists of the twentieth century: a truly remarkable book" (The New York Times), an epic story of a life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert. With a new introduction by Claire Messud. In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as...

Death Comes for the Archbishop is a lyrical, fictionalized account of two Catholic priests sent to establish a diocese in the New Mexico Territory in the mid-1800s. The novel follows Father Jean Marie Latour and his friend Father Joseph Vaillant as they travel through the vast, rugged American Southwest, facing cultural challenges, isolation, and spiritual tests.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

A great new collection of classic short fiction, brilliantly read by a selection of narrators. Includes the following stories: "The Lightening-Rod Man" by Herman Melville, "One of the Missing" by Ambrose Bierce, "The Leopard Man's Story" by Jack London, "Tennessee's Partner" by Bret Harte, "The New Catacomb" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin, "My Watch" and "The Widow's Protest" by Mark Twain, "An Ideal Family" by Kate Mansfield, "A Painful Case" by James Joyce, "Small Fry" by Anton Chekhov, and more!

When we read or listen, words can have a transforming effect. Our mood can alter in the space of a few sentences from joy to sadness. And not just our mood. These words can affect us physically, they can engage our emotions and even in their sadness bring a lump to our throat and tears to our eyes. Sometimes the relief can be palpable. Our authors, from Anton Chekhov, Stephen Crane, Willa Cather, Katherine Mansfield and a wealth of others, are well aware of what their talents will evoke. Genius has many names.

Inspired by real-life characters and events, Willa Cather’s historical novel follows the committed efforts of two friends, Bishop Jean Marie Latour and Father Joseph Vaillant, to establish a diocese in the newly acquired US territory of New Mexico. Their arduous and picaresque journey is set against a gorgeous landscape of mesas, canyons, and arroyos inhabited by the Pueblo, Hopi, and Navajo people, the place becoming almost another character itself.

To the people of Sweet Water, a fading railroad town on the Western plains, Mrs. Forrester is the resident aristocrat, at once gracious and comfortably remote. To her aging husband, she is a treasure whose value increases as his powers fail. To Niel Herbert, who falls in love with her as a boy and becomes her confidant as a man, Mrs. Forrester is by turns steadfast and faithless, dazzling and pathetic.

O Pioneers! is a story of the immigrants who came to America to build new lives for themselves. Struggling against poverty, ignorance, drought, and storm, they came to love and understand the land, until it rewarded them with a richness exceeding all imaginings.

Dive into the rich tapestry of life on the Nebraska plains in Willa Cathers classic novel, My Antonia. Through the eyes of young Jim Burden, experience the trials and triumphs of immigrant families as they forge a new life in America. This poignant story celebrates the strength of friendship, the beauty of the land, and the enduring spirit of a remarkable woman named Antonia.

In the quaint Midwestern town of Parthia, Myra Henshawe became a local legend when she chose love over wealth, sacrificing her inheritance to marry her true love, Oswald. Now, thirty years later, the spirited Myra enjoys a vibrant life with Oswald in New York City. When she takes Nellie, the teenage niece of her oldest friend, under her wing, she opens up a world of art, culture, and the intricate webs of friendship and romance. Join Myra and Nellie on a journey of discovery that transcends time and geography. (Summary by Amy Dunkleberger)

In this captivating tale, the enchanting Marian Forrester, wife of a railroad pioneer, effortlessly wins the admiration of everyone around her. Young Niel Herbert is no exception; he has cherished Mrs. Forresters grace and charm since childhood. Yet, as he matures, Niel is confronted with the unsettling realization that the woman he idolizes is not who she appears to be. Please note Content warning for one use of the N-word (Part 1, Chapter 8). (Summary by cadastra)

Explore the rich tapestry of Americas diverse social groups through the lens of a university professor and his family. This engaging portrait, summarized by Publishers Weekly on September 5, 1925, delves into the complexities of academia and domestic life.

In Lost Lady, young Niel Herbert finds himself captivated by the enchanting Marian Forrester, the alluring wife of a railroad magnate. However, when he uncovers her affair with another man, his admiration shatters, leading him to question everything he once believed in about her and the ideals she embodied. Content warning includes one use of the N-word. - Summary by Rob Marland

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1890s in the fictional town of Moonstone, Colorado, The Song of the Lark is a captivating tale of artistic ambition and self-discovery. Follow the journey of Thea Kronborg, a determined young woman who leaves her small hometown in pursuit of her dream to become a renowned opera star in the bustling city. The novel beautifully illustrates Theas fierce independence, relentless work ethic, and her journey toward greatness. As she navigates the challenges of her ascent, she recognizes the limitations of those around her, forcing her to shed relationships ...

O Pioneers! unfolds the captivating tale of the Bergson family, Swedish immigrants navigating the challenges of life on the Nebraska prairie at the dawn of the 20th century. At its heart is Alexandra Bergson, who inherits her fathers struggling farmland and dedicates herself to transforming it into a thriving enterprise, even as many of her fellow immigrants abandon their dreams. The narrative also explores two poignant romantic relationships one between Alexandra and her childhood friend Carl Linstrum, and another involving her brother Emil and the married Marie Shabata, intertwining themes ...

Dive into the captivating world of Youth And The Bright Medusa, a collection of eight evocative short stories published in 1920. This collection features four reimagined tales from the earlier work The Troll Garden, originally released in 1905. Alongside these, this LibriVox recording includes three additional stories—Flavia And Her Artists, The Garden Lodge, and The Marriage Of Phaedra—that were omitted in the later publication. Experience the full spectrum of both collections, brought to life in this engaging narrative. (Summary by David Wales)

In Alexanders Bridge, Bartley Alexander, a distinguished construction engineer and master bridge builder, finds himself grappling with what we now recognize as a mid-life crisis. Despite his marriage to Winifred, Bartleys life takes a complicated turn when he rekindles a romance with his former lover, Hilda Burgoyne, in London. This rekindled affair begins to erode Bartleys sense of propriety and honor, leading him to confront the turbulent emotions and choices that define his life.

My Ántonia captures the poignant journeys of immigrant families who venture into the heart of rural Nebraska in search of a new beginning. At the center of this narrative is the Bohemian Shimerda family, particularly their spirited eldest daughter, Ántonia. The story unfolds through the eyes of Jim Burden, who arrives in the fictional town of Black Hawk, Nebraska, on the same train as the Shimerdas, seeking solace with his grandparents after the loss of his parents. As Jim navigates his feelings for Ántonia—an intricate blend of admiration and familial affection—the reader is drawn into...