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    O Pioneers!
    O Pioneers!
    O Pioneers!
    Ebook202 pages3 hours

    O Pioneers!

    By Willa Cather

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    The first of her renowned prairie novels--a story that expresses Cather's conviction that "the history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman." When Alexandra Bergson takes over the family farm after her father's death, she falls under the spell of the rich, forbidding Nebraska prairie.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWSBLD
    Release dateJun 13, 2018
    ISBN9782291039310
    Author

    Willa Cather

    A prolific, confessedly compulsive poet and playright, Maureen Duffy published her first novel, ‘That’s How It Was’, in 1962. Since then she has written many novels including ‘Love Child, Gor Saga, Londoners’ and most recently, ‘Illuminations’, (1991) and ‘Ocean’s Razor ‘ (1993).

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    Reviews for O Pioneers!

    4/5

    1,249 ratings27 reviews

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    • 3/5
      1074 O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (read 7 Sep 1970) This is like other Cather novels, and only obliquely is about pioneers. It is laid in Nebraska and tells of Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish-born farmer, her brother Emil, Bohemians, French, etc. It certainly was not what I expected.
    • 4/5
      While I found this to be well written, it seemed a bit simple in terms of plot. The character development was good and there were some great descriptive passages of the land at the turn of the century as pioneers settled the west, and in this case Nebraska. Taken in historical perspective, I can understand the staying power of this writing.
    • 3/5
      A realist tale of Swedish immigrants living on the Nebraskan plains, their lives, and their hardships, Cather expertly paints a vivid, natural picture of pioneer life, not one embellished, but one fully developed. Truly captures the spirit of pioneer life.
    • 4/5
      I loved Alexandra and the way she could see the true beauty of the land even as she struggled to harness it. Sad, beautiful, luminous.
    • 2/5
      I feel obligated to say that it wasn't by any means due to the writing, references, or classic applicability of this book that it got a two star rating (I'm calling it a 2.5). It is simply because, although interesting, it was hard pressed to keep my attention for long periods of time. I would still recommend it if you are interested in early colonial mid-west historical fiction!
    • 1/5
      Had to read it for an American Lit class in college. So boring.
    • 4/5
      Beautifully written and elegantly paced. Willa Cather's talent for description and dialogue make it clear why her fans adore her. Personally, I liked Death Comes for the Archbishop more, though I haven't yet read My Antonia.
    • 4/5
      Alexandra Bergson tames the prairie and gets no respect. Her oldest brothers are idiots. She sends the youngest to college and he turns out well, but then he falls in love with their neighbor Marie. Trouble ensues. I'm not sure why Alexandra needed Carl, but she likes him and he likes her. It was nice that they could be together.
    • 4/5
      Worth a trip to Nebraska.
    • 5/5
      I can't begin to tell you how appropriate Willa Cather's work is to my life. This requires a blog, and I may or may not include Willa's My Antonia altogether in one blog. To be continued.
    • 5/5
      Alexandra Bergson, a strong, brave, intelligent woman with a love of the land, born for management, kind to others, not kind enough to herself. It takes a tragedy for her own feelings to come through. I very much liked this novel which brings together people from different origins at the end of the 19th century and shows how the American nation was forged. This westvaco edition is simply beautiful.
    • 4/5
      Some of the most beautiful nature writing I've ever come across. She can make you feel the land. Story is also interesting, but the ending is a bit offensive to modern sensibilities. How exactly does Marie "deserve" to be killed by her loutish husband. Why would Alexandra feel sympathy for the man who killed . . . killed! . . . her brother. Has me scratching my head.
    • 4/5
      An engrossing story to lose yourself in, well read.
    • 4/5
      Somehow, I managed to make it through 64 years of life and an MA in American Literature without ever having read any of Willa Cather's novels. So I picked up O PIONEERS and found it to be very good. Cather shows the same passion for the American landscape that John Steinbeck does, but in a less flowery manner.
    • 3/5
      Willa Cather gives us a memorable set of archetypal characters who revolve around Mother Earth, Alexandra Bergson. Much of what happens tastes fairly bitterly of fate, and the characters are pushed into situations which force them to act at cross-purposes with happiness.What lasts is the hard-won triumph of the titular characters, the visionary and inexhaustible Alexandra most of all.
    • 4/5
      Cather is a wonderful writer, painting a hard-edged world in beautiful strokes. I didn't enjoy this one as much as others by her because I don't handle depressing stories especially well.
    • 4/5
      classic Cather--probably a good one to start out with--not sure if it's my favorite one but still it is very good
    • 2/5
      Best summed up by the word "Eh." This books starts flat and ends flat, with nothing special happening in between. I'm shocked that so many people gave this high ratings. Personally, I think this one should be avoided. Nothing was gained from reading it.
    • 5/5
      The story of a strong female pioneer. It must have really hurt to have her brothers dismiss her contribution because she was a women.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful example of historical literature in regards to the pioneer life on the plains at the end of the 19th century into the 20th century. The plot, characters, and language are so full and engaging that I was swept up in the story and characters. The ending is fitting in many ways with all of the threads coming together in a beautiful but sad quilt.I am so glad that I finally picked up Cather's books. I liked this better than My Antonia (which was very good also).
    • 3/5
      During Cather's time, the story of a woman who succeeded on her own was probably an original one. These days, a determined woman who can run her own farm is a story you've read before. This is a work of literature that doesn't really stand the test of time.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book . The landscape is such a feature, a thing of beauty and threat and the promise of hard work. The way of life is portrayed brilliantly, a unique subgroup of Swedish immigrants to the US , their language, culture, habits of dress and food, all fascinating . The role of women is shown through their work, family and personal relationship ships.a very powerful, moving novel.
    • 5/5
      Willa Cather never disappoints me - this may be my favorite yet! What a strong, woman protagonist, as well as another vivid account of Nebraskan pioneers. I enjoyed the way the story spanned two decades, which showed how both the landscape and characters progressed (or didn't).

      I learned from this book that women CAN get married at 40, even if their family finds it peculiar.
    • 4/5
      Hmmm....being a chemist in college I never had to read this book as part of a scholastically driven forced march. That being said, I picked this up in St. Charles on a whim and when I finished it I was pleasantly surprised. I'd expected a celebration of mother earth (which was in there) or a hymn to nature (which is there too), but I got a dark tale of late requited illicit love between Marie Shabata and Emil, adultery and murder. Touché Willa!
    • 4/5
      The book is the story of a time (late 1800's) and a place (Nebraska) as much as it is of the characters.The land is vividly portrayed along with those who love it. Agatha, her brothers, and her neighbors seem believable and real. I found the book compelling and touching.
    • 4/5
      A character piece. What happens in this book isn't particularly interesting, but the people it centers around is. There isn't anything particularly mesmerizing about any of the characters - they're just so real and wholesome and pleasant that I'd like being friends with them, but they have conflict just enough that they're intriguing to watch from afar as well. I love Alexandra most, of course. A feminist icon.
    • 4/5
      This book was a pleasant surprise -- I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Written 100 years ago, its observations of human foibles are still apt.

    Book preview

    O Pioneers! - Willa Cather

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