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Willa Sibert Cather

    7 dicembre 1873 – 24 aprile 1947

    Willa Cather è celebrata per i suoi vividi romanzi che ritraggono la vita di frontiera e lo spirito duraturo degli individui in cerca di significato in un mondo in cambiamento. Impiega magistralmente uno stile in prosa lirico per esplorare temi di identità, appartenenza e la profonda connessione tra le persone e la terra. Cather era particolarmente abile nel creare protagoniste femminili resilienti che affrontano le avversità con calma forza e introspezione. Il suo lavoro rimane significativo per la sua acuta intuizione psicologica e la sua rappresentazione senza tempo dell'esperienza americana.

    Willa Sibert Cather
    Death comes for the Archbishop
    Shadows On The Rock
    My Ántonia
    My Mortal Enemy
    Lucy Gayheart
    Obscure Destinies
    • Obscure Destinies

      • 86pagine
      • 4 ore di lettura

      Interconnected short stories capture the essence of life on the American frontier, showcasing the struggles and triumphs of its inhabitants. Willa Cather's vivid prose brings to life the unique experiences of her characters, offering insights into their destinies and the challenges they face in a changing world. This collection, published in 1932, highlights the resilience and spirit of those who lived in this rugged landscape.

      Obscure Destinies
      3,7
    • Lucy Gayheart

      • 126pagine
      • 5 ore di lettura

      In this haunting novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of My Ántonia and Death Comes for the Archbishop performs a series of crystalline variations on the themes that preoccupy her greatest fiction: the impermanence of innocence, the opposition between prairie and city, provincial American values and world culture, and the grandeur, elation, and heartache that await a gifted young woman who leaves her small Nebraska town to pursue a life in art. At the age of eighteen, Lucy Gayheart heads for Chicago to study music. She is beautiful and impressionable and ardent, and these qualities attract the attention of Clement Sebastian, an aging but charismatic singer who exercises all the tragic, sinister fascination of a man who has renounced life only to turn back to seize it one last time. Out of their doomed love affair-and Lucy's fatal estrangement from her origins-Willa Cather creates a novel that is as achingly lovely as a Schubert sonata.

      Lucy Gayheart
      4,0
    • My Mortal Enemy

      • 78pagine
      • 3 ore di lettura

      My Mortal Enemy is the eighth novel by American author Willa Cather. It was first published in1926. Willa Cather's protagonist in My Mortal Enemy is Myra Henshawe, who as a young woman gave up a fortune to marry for love-a boldly romantic gesture that became a legend in her family. But this worldly, sarcastic, and perhaps even wicked woman may have been made for something greater than love.

      My Mortal Enemy
      3,9
    • My Ántonia

      • 384pagine
      • 14 ore di lettura

      My Antonia' is one man's attempt to commit to paper the beautiful, wild eyed immigrant girl who has haunted him all his life. For Jim Burden, Antonia Shimerdas symbolises all the extraordinary contradicitions of the American West: Its harshness, its untamed beauty, its blazing summers and bitter winters, its endless possibilities and vast unconquerable horizons. This is his attempt to immortalise her, to posses her as he never could in life. Widely regarded as Willa Carter's finest novel, My Antonia, is a moving and powerful description of love and a timeless portrait of a land and its people.

      My Ántonia
      3,8
    • Shadows On The Rock

      • 142pagine
      • 5 ore di lettura

      The novel follows a year in the lives of Cecile Auclair and her father Euclide, French colonists in Quebec, beginning in 1697. Euclide, a physician and apothecary, reflects on the last ship returning to France while managing the household after his wife's death, with Cecile taking on domestic duties. The story unfolds through character-driven narratives rather than a central plot. As winter approaches, Euclide attends to Reverend Mother Juschereau, while Cecile shows kindness to Jacques, the son of a troubled woman, by seeking shoes for him from Governor Frontenac. The young Bishop Saint-Vallier visits the Auclair shop, and Euclide expresses his disapproval of the bishop's extravagant lifestyle and decisions. In June, fur-trader Pierre Charron shares tales with the Auclairs and accompanies Cecile on a visit to friends. When five ships arrive from France, a celebration ensues, and Cecile receives gifts from her aunts. Although scheduled to return to France, she hesitates, worried about Jacques's well-being. Meanwhile, the Count, realizing he won't be recalled to France, frees Euclide from service, but Euclide opts to stay. The Count, on his deathbed, gifts a bowl of glass fruit to Cecile, and after his passing, the two bishops reconcile their differences.

      Shadows On The Rock
      3,5
    • 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 the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows—gently, all the while contending with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Out of these events, Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.

      Death comes for the Archbishop
      4,0
    • This collection showcases Willa Cather's poetic experimentation across various styles and themes, reflecting her personal experiences. Spanning from 1892 to 1933, the poems reveal the depth of her literary talent, complementing her renowned work as a novelist.

      Under Far Horizons - Selected Poetry of Willa Cather
      2,5
    • A Lost Lady

      • 64pagine
      • 3 ore di lettura

      A Lost Lady follows Marian Forrester and her husband, Captain Daniel, in the Western town of Sweet Water. Narrated by young Niel Herbert, the story explores Mrs. Forrester's decline and reflects on the West's transformation from noble pioneers to capitalist exploitation.

      A Lost Lady
      3,7
    • The Professor's House

      • 140pagine
      • 5 ore di lettura

      The story explores Professor Godfrey St. Peter's struggle with change and nostalgia as he grapples with his dissatisfaction in life. Reluctantly moving to a new house, he clings to his past by maintaining his old study. A near-death experience from a gas leak serves as a catalyst for self-reflection, prompting him to confront his fears and seek a healthier way to cope with his evolving reality. The narrative delves into themes of identity, loss, and the challenges of embracing change.

      The Professor's House
      3,8
    • Sapphira Dodderidge, a Virginia lady of the 19th century, marries beneath her and becomes irrationally jealous of Nancy, a beautiful slave. One of Cather's later works.

      Sapphira and the Slave Girl
      3,7
    • The Burglar’s Christmas was originally published near the beginning of Willa Cather’s writing career in 1896 under the pseudonym of Elizabeth L. Seymour. The story follows William Crawford on the cold streets of Chicago as he contemplates the multiple failures plaguing his life, including his time at college and careers in journalism, real estate, and performing. Distraught, he tries one more role: thief. Attempting to burgle a residence and caught in the act by the lady of the house, William must come to terms with the choices that led him to that moment. Cather provides a heartwarming short story of redemption and love at Christmas, a timely reminder that kindness is in everyone, just waiting to be uncovered.

      The Burglar's Christmas
      3,3
    • One of Ours

      • 260pagine
      • 10 ore di lettura

      The novel explores Claude Wheeler's internal struggle as he grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction and a sense of entrapment despite his comfortable upbringing in Nebraska. Set around the turn of the 20th century, it delves into themes of identity, societal expectations, and the search for meaning in life. Cather vividly portrays Wheeler's conflicts with his family's values and his quest for purpose, ultimately leading him to question the path laid out for him.

      One of Ours
      3,5
    • Alexander's Bridge

      • 144pagine
      • 6 ore di lettura

      Alexander’s Bridge, Willa Cather’s first novel, is a taut psychological drama about the fragility of human connections. Published in 1912, just a year before O Pioneers! made Cather’s name, it features high society on an international stage rather than the immigrant prairie characters she later became known for. The successful and glamorous life of Bartley Alexander, a world-renowned engineer and bridge builder, begins to unravel when he encounters a former lover in London. As he shuttles among his wife in Boston, his old flame in London, and a massive bridge he is building in Canada, Alexander finds himself increasingly tormented. But the threatened collapse of his marriage presages a more fatal catastrophe, one he will risk his life to try to prevent.

      Alexander's Bridge
      3,3
    • Featuring a diverse array of short stories, this collection showcases Willa Cather's literary prowess, including notable pieces like "Coming, Aphrodite!" and "Paul's Case." Many stories were previously included in "The Troll Garden," adding depth to her exploration of themes such as art, identity, and the human experience. Renowned for her depictions of frontier life, Cather's work remains significant in American literature. This new edition also includes an excerpt by H. L. Mencken, enhancing its appeal to both new readers and fans of classic literature.

      Youth and the Bright Medusa;With an Excerpt by H. L. Mencken
    • Set in late 19th-century Nebraska, the narrative follows Jim Burden, an orphaned boy, and Ántonia Shimerda, the daughter of Bohemian immigrants. Their friendship blossoms as they navigate the challenges of pioneer life, exploring themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the bond between nature and humanity. Through their experiences, the story captures the struggles and triumphs of immigrant families, highlighting the richness of their shared journey in a new land.

      My Ántonia (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
    • 7 best short stories - Western

      • 130pagine
      • 5 ore di lettura

      This collection features seven notable short stories that encapsulate the essence of Western fiction, a genre highlighting the ruggedness of the American Old West from 1860 to 1900. The selected works showcase themes of courage and adventure against the backdrop of vast, desolate landscapes. Noteworthy authors such as Bret Harte, Jack London, and Willa Cather contribute to this anthology, offering readers a mythic vision of the plains and deserts through compelling narratives that reflect the spirit of the era.

      7 best short stories - Western
    • This collection features a diverse array of short stories that explore themes of identity, art, and the human experience, set against the backdrop of American life. Notable tales include "Paul's Case," which examines temperament and societal expectations, and "A Wagner Matinee," reflecting on the transformative power of music. Willa Cather, an acclaimed writer known for her depictions of frontier life, offers rich narratives that delve into the complexities of her characters. The new edition includes an insightful excerpt by H. L. Mencken, enhancing the reader's experience.

      The Troll Garden and Selected Stories;With an Excerpt by H. L. Mencken
    • Featuring a diverse array of short stories, essays, and articles, this collection showcases the literary talent of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather. The writings explore themes of frontier life and human experience, with notable pieces like "On The Divide" and "The Enchanted Bluff." Cather, renowned for her depictions of the Great Plains, is celebrated alongside her iconic novels such as "O Pioneers!" and "My Ántonia." This new edition includes an insightful excerpt by H. L. Mencken, enriching the reader's experience of Cather's work.

      A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays;With an Excerpt by H. L. Mencken
    • Exploring the profound question of living without future hopes, Willa Cather delves into the emotional landscape of her characters in this intense short novel. Through their experiences, she examines themes of despair and resilience, inviting readers to reflect on the human condition and the search for meaning in a seemingly bleak existence.

      The Professor's House ;With an Excerpt by H. L. Mencken
    • My Antonia

      A novel by Willa Cather

      • 252pagine
      • 9 ore di lettura

      Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century Nebraska, the story follows Jim Burden, an orphaned boy, and Ántonia Shimerda, the daughter of Bohemian immigrants. Their experiences as young pioneers shape their lives, highlighting the challenges and beauty of the harsh yet fertile land. The narrative captures the essence of pioneering life and the deep connections formed in this new world. Celebrated for its vivid portrayal of the American West, this novel is regarded as Willa Cather's first masterpiece, showcasing her talent for storytelling and character development.

      My Antonia
    • The narrative follows Bartley Alexander, a renowned engineer facing a mid-life crisis, as he navigates the complexities of love and loyalty. While married to Winifred, he reignites a past romance in London, leading to inner turmoil and regret. Willa Cather's debut novel delves into themes of desire, honor, and the struggles of personal fulfillment against societal expectations.

      Alexander's Bridge;With an Excerpt by H. L. Mencken
    • A Collection of Short Stories

      • 214pagine
      • 8 ore di lettura

      Willa Cather's writing is characterized by a nostalgic tone, deeply rooted in her memories of the American plains. Her works explore themes of beauty and terror in life, often addressing homelessness and exile. Central to her narratives are notions of land, the frontier, and pioneering, alongside reflections on the emerging women's movement and the relationships people have with western landscapes. Cather's unique perspective and evocative descriptions make her one of the most significant writers of the 20th century.

      A Collection of Short Stories
    • Youth and the Bright Medusa

      • 146pagine
      • 6 ore di lettura

      Recognized for her vivid portrayals of frontier life, Willa Sibert Cather's works explore the challenges and triumphs of life on the Great Plains. Her notable novels, including O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark, reflect her Nebraska roots and deep connection to the landscape. Cather's literary achievements were honored with the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for One of Ours, a poignant narrative set against the backdrop of World War I. Her journey from Nebraska to New York shaped her unique perspective as an author.

      Youth and the Bright Medusa
    • The Troll Garden and Selected Stories

      • 196pagine
      • 7 ore di lettura

      Willa Cather is celebrated for her vivid depictions of settlers and frontier life in the American plains. Born in Virginia in 1873 and later residing in New York City, her works reflect a deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by those who shaped the American landscape. Cather's storytelling captures the essence of resilience and the human spirit against the backdrop of the vast, often harsh, plains. Her literary contributions have solidified her status as a significant figure in American literature.

      The Troll Garden and Selected Stories
    • Set against the backdrop of the harsh Great Plains in the late nineteenth century, the narrative explores the struggles and resilience of immigrants forging new lives in America. Willa Cather's evocative prose vividly portrays their challenges and triumphs, highlighting the emotional and physical landscapes they navigate. The book offers a poignant reflection on the immigrant experience, revealing the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

      The Great Plains Collection - Three Volumes in One;O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, & My Ántonia
    • Willa Cather's collection presents a vivid portrayal of early 20th-century American life, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and the changing landscapes of the Midwest. Set against diverse backdrops, from vast plains to small towns, each narrative features ordinary characters facing extraordinary events. Cather's evocative prose captures the essence of love, loss, and the quest for meaning, reflecting the complexities of human emotions and the broader cultural context. This work showcases her literary skill and deep appreciation for the American experience.

      A Collection of Stories Reviews and Essays
    • My Antonia by Willa Cather

      • 146pagine
      • 6 ore di lettura

      "A story of the hardships of a bitter winter in the American west, this is also a stirring tribute to un-freezable human spirit." -Xan Brooks ; The Guardian My Ántonia is a novel published in 1918 by American writer Willa Cather, considered one of her best works. It is the final book of her "prairie trilogy" of novels, preceded by O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. The novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, Ántonia Shimerda, who are each brought as children to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century. Both the pioneers who first break the prairie sod for farming, as well as of the harsh but fertile land itself, feature in this American novel. The first year in the very new place leaves strong impressions in both children, affecting them lifelong. This novel is considered Cather's first masterpiece. Cather was praised for bringing the American West to life and making it personally interesting. A True American Classic that Belongs on Every Bookshelf!

      My Antonia by Willa Cather
    • One of America’s greatest women writers, Willa Cather established her talent and her reputation with this extraordinary novel—the first of her books set on the Nebraska frontier. A tale of the prairie land encountered by America’s Swedish, Czech, Bohemian, and French immigrants, as well as a story of how the land challenged them, changed them, and, in some cases, defeated them, Cather’s novel is a uniquely American epic. Alexandra Bergson, a young Swedish immigrant girl who inherits her father’s farm and must transform it from raw prairie into a prosperous enterprise, is the first of Cather’s great heroines—all of them women of strong will and an even stronger desire to overcome adversity and succeed. But the wild land itself is an equally important character in Cather’s books, and her descriptions of it are so evocative, lush, and moving that they provoked writer Rebecca West to say of her: “The most sensuous of writers, Willa Cather builds her imagined world almost as solidly as our five senses build the universe around us.” Willa Cather, perhaps more than any other American writer, was able to re-create the real drama of the pioneers, capturing for later generations a time, a place, and a spirit that has become part of our national heritage.

      O Pioneers!. Unter den Hügeln die kommende Zeit, englische Ausgabe
    • The Great Plains Trilogy

      • 880pagine
      • 31 ore di lettura

      This set brings together three of Cather's novels--O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and My Antonia--which are collectively known as the "Great Plains Trilogy." These novels explore themes related to pioneering life, the immigrant experience, and resilience on the American prairie, primarily set in Nebraska and Colorado.

      The Great Plains Trilogy
    • The Song of the Lark

      • 580pagine
      • 21 ore di lettura

      A story of a young woman's awakening as an artist and her struggle to escape the constraints of a small town in Colorado.

      The Song of the Lark
    • Alexandra, daughter of a Swedish immigrant farmer in Nebraska, inherits the family farm and finds love with an old friend.

      O Pioneers!
    • A successful lawyer remembers his boyhood in Nebraska and his friendship with an immigrant Bohemian girl. Includes background information, a chronology of the author's life, explanatory notes, critical analyses, and other reference material.

      My Antonia: Includes Detailed Notes and Commentary
    • Román české ženy mezi evropskými přistěhovalci v Americe, který v smíšeném národnostním prostředí vyzdvihuje povahové rysy pro českou ženu typické, vášnivou lásku k životu, houževnatost, dobrotu, důvěřivost a citlivé srdce. Vyprávěn v prvé osobě obdivným pohledem Američana, byl míněn jako oslava české ženy k obnovení české samostatnosti v r. 1918. Jeho autorkou je americká spisovatelka irského původu, která prožila mládí mezi evropskými přistěhovalci v Nebrasce a sblížila se zejména s rodinami skandinávskými a českými.

      Moje Antonie
      5,0
    • Na příběhu jedné rodiny sledujeme přerod společnosti pionýrských osadníků do počínajícího nelítostného kapitalismu.

      Ztracená
      3,0
    • Rivages poche: La Montgolfière

      • 89pagine
      • 4 ore di lettura

      Paul had just come in to dress for dinner; he sank into a chair, weak in the knees, and clasped his head in his hands. It was to be worse than jail, even; the tepid waters of Cordelia Street were to close over him finally and forever. The grey monotony stretched before him in hopeless, unrelieved years; Sabbath-school, Young People's Meeting, the yellow-papered room, the damp dish-towels; it all rushed back upon him with sickening vividness. Excerpt fr "Paul's Case," one of eight poetic stories in this memorable collection.

      Rivages poche: La Montgolfière
      3,6
    • Willa Cather (1873-1947) a déjà solidement établi sa réputation de grand écrivain américain avec, entre autres romans, Mon Antonia et Pionniers ! lorsque, au cours de l’un de ses voyages en France, en 1930, elle rencontre, dans un hôtel d’Aix-les-Bains, une fascinante vieille dame qui n’est autre que Caroline Grout, la nièce de Gustave Flaubert. La petite Caroline, dont la mère est morte en couches, a été élevée par son fameux oncle dont elle est l’exécutrice testamentaire. La Nièce de Flaubert dresse le portrait d’une femme surprenante, lien vivant entre un vingtième siècle déjà éprouvé par la guerre et l’âge d’or de la littérature française, dont Flaubert est l’un des plus grands représentants. Ce texte est avant tout un éloge ardent de la littérature et de la lecture, non comme passe-temps mais comme raison de vivre.

      La Petite Collection: La nièce de Flaubert
      3,3
    • Lucy Gayheartová, jejíž matka zemřela, když jí bylo šest, a ona byla potom většinou vychovávána svojí sestrou Paulinou, patří k místní mládeži. Potom odjíždí do Chicaga na studium hudby.

      Lucy Gayheartová
      3,5
    • Nejznámější román americké autorky z roku 1927 se odehrává v polovině minulého století v oblasti Nového Mexika, kam přijíždí nový vikář Jean Latour, a trvá mu celý rok, než se dostane na své působiště. Důležitou roli v díle hraje krajina, pustá a liduprázdná, kterou spisovatelka líčí s důvěrnou znalostí, a dále chudí Mexičané, Indiáni a mestici, kteří jí přizpůsobují svůj život.

      Smrt si jde pro arcibiskupa
    • Der verwunschene Fels

      und andere Erzählungen

      • 324pagine
      • 12 ore di lettura

      Die neu entdeckten Erzählungen einer der großen Stilistinnen der amerikanischen Literatur Mit so einfach erscheinenden Worten und dem klaren Rhythmus ihrer Sätze leuchtet Willa Cather das Innenleben ihrer Figuren aus und erweckt deren Umfeld zum Leben: Ob sechs Schulfreunde in einer Sommernacht auf einer Sandbank im Fluss von bevorstehenden Abenteuern träumen, Nelly Deane mit ungestümer Lebenslust nach den Sternen greift, der Lehrling Paul mit erschlichenem Geld in einem New Yorker Hotel die weite Welt schnuppert oder die alte Mrs. Harris versucht, ihrer Enkelin einen großen Zukunftswunsch zu erfüllen – wie nebenbei scheinen bei Cather die großen Fragen unserer Existenz auf. Und sie führt uns bestechend klar vor Augen, wie Gesellschaft und Landschaft bestimmen, wer wir sind. Bis wir uns von den Fesseln befreien. Größtenteils zum ersten Mal übersetzt von Agnes Krup, die in ihrem Nachwort zeigt, wie Leben und Werk der Autorin zusammengehören.

      Der verwunschene Fels
    • Povídka popisuje závěr života nebraského farmáře původem z Čech. Oslavuje postoje a hodnoty imigrantů na americké půdě.

      Farmář Rosický