by Linda De Roche
Greenwood Press
Hardback

Willa Cather's elegiac tales of the pioneer experience on the American frontier continue to captivate new generations of readers. Written especially for students, this critical introduction offers insightful yet accessible criticism of Cather's most widely read novels. The volume covers such enduring works as Alexander's Bridge, O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, My Antonia, The Professor's House, Death Comes for the Archbishop, and Shadows on the Rock. Each chapter is devoted to an individual novel and provides a full discussion of character development, thematic concerns, and plot structure. The introduction to each novel traces its genesis and its critical reception at the time of publication. The historical context sections place Cather's vision of the pioneer spirit and achievement within the context of a rapidly changing America that was in the process of abandoning its traditional values and thus risking its source of greatness. Students will find this book a valuable guide to Cather's works.

LINDA DE ROCHE is Professor of English at Wesley College. Her previous books include Student Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald (2000), and Revisiting Mary Higgins Clark: A Critical Companion (2003), both available from Greenwood Press.