O Pioneers! - Paperback

by Willa Cather (Author)

Cather's classic story of Alexandra Bergson, a courageous Swedish woman who must assume responsibility for the farm and family after her father's death in 19th-century Nebraska. A Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie starring Jessica Lange and David Strathem, to air on CBS on February 3, 1992.

Back Jacket

Set on the Nebraska prairie where Willa Cather (1873-1947) grew up, this powerful early novel tells the story of the young Alexandra Bergson, whose dying father leaves her in charge of the family and of the lands they have struggled to farm. In Alexandra's long flight to survive and succeed, O Pioneers! relates an important chapter in the history of the American frontier.
Evoking the harsh grandeur of the prairie, this landmark of American fiction unfurls a saga of love, greed, murder, failed dreams, and hard-won triumph. In the fateful interaction of her characters, Willa Cather compares with keen insight the experiences of Swedish, French, and Bohemian immigrants in the United States. And in her absorbing narrative, she displays the virtuoso storytelling skills that have made her one of the most admired masters of the American novel.

Author Biography

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather (1873-1947) spent her formative years in Nebraska, which was at that time frontier territory. Her exposure to the region's dramatic environment and intrinsic hardships -- along with its diverse population of European-Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants -- shaped and informed much of her fiction.