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‘She is undoubtedly one of the twentieth century’s greatest American writers’ OBSERVER
‘Her finest novel . . . A masterpiece’ IRISH TIMES
‘The vivacious Marian Forrester stands as a romantic paean to the pioneer’s reckless abandon, counterpointed by the narrator’s prim decency’ THE TIMES
Marian Forrester brings delight to her husband, an elderly railroad pioneer; to the small town of Sweet Water where they live; and to Niel Herbert, the young narrator of her story who falls in love with her as a boy and later becomes her confidant. He witnesses this vibrant woman in all her contradictory facets: by turns faithless and steadfast, dazzling and pathetic, invincibly charming yet dangerously vulnerable to the men she charms. All are bewitched by her charisma and grace – and all are ultimately betrayed.
Willa Cather’s most perfect novel is not only a portrait of a troubling beauty, but also a haunting evocation of a noble age slipping irrevocably into the past.
‘Her finest novel . . . A masterpiece’ IRISH TIMES
‘The vivacious Marian Forrester stands as a romantic paean to the pioneer’s reckless abandon, counterpointed by the narrator’s prim decency’ THE TIMES
Marian Forrester brings delight to her husband, an elderly railroad pioneer; to the small town of Sweet Water where they live; and to Niel Herbert, the young narrator of her story who falls in love with her as a boy and later becomes her confidant. He witnesses this vibrant woman in all her contradictory facets: by turns faithless and steadfast, dazzling and pathetic, invincibly charming yet dangerously vulnerable to the men she charms. All are bewitched by her charisma and grace – and all are ultimately betrayed.
Willa Cather’s most perfect novel is not only a portrait of a troubling beauty, but also a haunting evocation of a noble age slipping irrevocably into the past.
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Reviews
Her finest novel . . . A masterpiece
This classic has the striking economy of Hemingway, and is as poignant an elegy for the pioneer West as I have read. The vivacious Marian Forrester stands as a romantic paean to the pioneer's reckless abandon, counterpointed by the narrator's prim decency
A poised and perfectly shaped novel
A poised and perfectly shaped novel
She is undoubtedly one of the twentieth century's greatest American writers
Willa Cather makes a world which is burningly alive, sometimes lovely, often tragic
Her finest novel . . . A masterpiece
Willa Cather makes a world which is burningly alive, sometimes lovely, often tragic
She is undoubtedly one of the twentieth century's greatest American writers
