The World of Willa Cather

by Mildred R. Bennett

The World of Willa Cather describes the people and places in Nebraska that figure prominently in many of Cather’s best novels and short stories. It offers material that can be found nowhere else. Here are Willa Cather of Red Cloud, her family and friends, and the things that formed her sensibilities.

Genres: American

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

Reviews

[Chloe Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, albeit limited, glimpse into Cather's life. For a more organized and/or chronological biography, look elsewhere.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Bits of this can be quite dry and dated (original publication was in the ‘50’s) but it is invaluable for insights into Willa Cather’s inspiration for characters and place in her novels.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this had been better than it was. It was put together in a scattered, and, what felt like haphazard way.

The first part basically just points out the people in Willa’s life and what characters in her works that are based on these people. I didn’t get much of a feeling about Willa herself. Just the basics of how she wound up in Nebraska.

Toward the end, it tried to fill in the gaps about Willa, but by then it was too late.

Willa, it seems, was a highly talented writer, even though according to the Notes in back of the book, some people during her university years disagreed. They said she was a snob with no friends and showed no talent. I think it’s now obvious that this wasn’t true.

BTW, I ended up getting more information from the Notes section before the index. I guess it was added in my 1961 version due to many complaints about where the author had gleaned her information.

I got the sense that Willa did find it hard to fit in and find her place, and it seems that maybe she didn’t even really want to. She never married, and I do believe that was intentional. She liked her independence and living her own life.

I would rate this a 3.5, rounded down here. The pictures were priceless and told a story not really included with the narrative.

[Teri Reck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to find this used copy at 2nd and Charles in Ft. Collins. I love Cather's work ( on our first trip to Santa Fe, as we drove from So Cal, I read aloud Death Comes for the Archbishop---Brian and I like to read some pertinent literature when we visit a new place), and I have always wanted to know more about her life. What a fascinating woman! Definitely a woman of contrasts--she wished to be artistic and worldly and sophisticated, well educated, with a voice to be reckoned with. She had a great fondness for science and thought, at one time, of becoming a physician, before she realized that her calling was to write. And yet, her writing focuses on the simple joys and the hard lives of the pioneers with whom she grew up, the immigrants who eked out an existence in a new land, people of faith who truly walked the walk. Her respect for them is genuine, and although her adult life was quite cosmopolitan, her fondness for the simple country life of her youth is evident. The author's writing is not stellar, but her subject is, and that manages to carry the reader through---at least it did for me. Worth reading.

[Cheryl Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit reading this because it's a little dry, but continued on because of my Nebraska roots and because I enjoy reading about its history, of which Willa Cather is an important part. I was impressed with the scholarship of the book; Ms. Bennett obviously did a lot of research. The book was a valuable insight into the way Cather honored the people in her life by reflecting them in her characters. She was both complicated and driven to write.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like with all books by and about Willa Cather I am a little biased. This book is no different. The fact the author's husband, Dr. Bennett, brought me kicking and screaming into the world 61 years ago, is hard to ignore. I remember Mrs. Bennett well and was thrilled to finally read this biography. The research she indulged in was very impressive. The stories and histories of so many people from my hometown were incredible. My only regret is I didn't read this years ago.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I set out to know more about Willa Cather and now I know more. I would like to learn out still more.

[Christopher Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

not great but with some interesting bits.