My Antonia

This novel is considered one of Willa Cather’s best works.

The novel tells the stories of Jim Burden, an orphaned boy from Virginia, and Ántonia Shimerda, the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, who are each brought as children to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century. The first year in Nebraska leaves both children with strong impressions, affecting the children for life.

My Antonia is regarded as Cather's first masterpiece. Cather has been praised for bringing the American West to life and making it personally interesting.