O Pioneers! by Willa Cather is one of the best books that I have read in a while. Rarely do I read a book and become instantly hooked after reading the first couple of 
sentences. But, with O Pioneers! the opening “scene” of the novel is breathtaking. Cather’s writing is simplistic, yet resonating. She doesn’t cram the novel with unimportant details, but rather chooses only the most significant details in order to focus and enhance the story. And Cather is a magnificent story teller. I was captivated by the story and the fate of the characters.
O Pioneers! takes place on the prairie in Nebraska. The Bergsen’s are pioneers trying to live off the land in order to survive and thrive. After the death of their father, Alexandra takes control of her family’s land and becomes prosperous. Alexandra’s brothers, Lou and Otto, marry while Emil goes to school in the city. After several years, an old friend, Carl Linstrum, unexpectedly arrives at Alexandra’s, reminding her of the time that has passed and her loneliness. I don’t want to spoil more of the story, and summarizing O Pioneers! would not even give the novel justice, or a prospective reader any good idea of what to expect when reading. One needs to experience Willa Cather’s amazing story telling ability by reading the novel for oneself.
But, I would like to write down some of my thoughts on the story and characters for those who may have read the novel. For one, I really admired the character of Alexandra. She was such a strong and independent woman, becoming more successful than her brothers. Although her brothers may have worked the land when their father died, Alexandra was the ultimate decision maker and very business and “farm-savvy.” However, Alexandra sacrificed having a family of her own in order to achieve her prosperity. But, I think that Alexandra is the epitome of the hard working pioneer who came from a family that had very little only to create the untamed land of the prairie into a source of income.
There is an ongoing relationship between the nature of the prairie and that of the characters. As with all pioneers, the land becomes their whole lives. It is where they get their food and money, so no doubt the characters experience a love-hate relationship with the land. In O Pioneers! the prairie and the land is its own character. It is unpredictable, has a mind of its own, and controls the lives and fate of those who live there. The land is at times beautiful, but at other times vicious.
The story leads up to the short lived romance between Emil and Marie Shabata. Emil and Marie have a special connection and love one another, but are unable to express themselves because Marie is married. Marie realizes she is unhappy and Emil and her come together in the Shabata orchard. As the two lovers lie next to one another, Marie’s husband drunkenly takes a rifle and shoots both his wife and Emil. A tragic and unexpected ending for both characters. While reading the scene as it unfolded, it was absolutely gripping. Emil and Marie had both found happiness only to have it taken from them.
But O Pioneers! ends on a note of redemption and hope. Alexandra dedicates herself to getting Marie’s husband out of jail, and Carl and Alexandra plan on marrying. Like all stories, life goes on. Happiness isn’t guaranteed for the fate of any of the characters, but the element of hope is always there.
I plan on reading more of Willa Cather, and most certainly I will be reading O Pioneers! again. I am disappointed that I never read Willa Cather in high school or college. She is such a fantastic American woman writer. I just can’t say enough about O Pioneers! Love, love, love!
Tags: Books, Fiction, Reviews, Willa Cather
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