The Sculptor's Funeral

by Willa Cather

The Sculptor's Funeral is a short story written by Willa Cather. The story is set in the late 19th century and revolves around the death of a famous sculptor named Harvey Merrick. The story begins with the arrival of Merrick's body in his hometown, where he had left many years ago to pursue his art. His body is met with mixed reactions from the townspeople, some of whom are proud of his achievements while others are resentful of his success and the way he left the town.The story is told from the perspective of a young newspaper reporter named Willa who is sent to cover the funeral. Willa is struck by the contrast between the solemnity of the funeral and the gossip and backbiting that goes on behind the scenes. She observes the tensions between Merrick's family, who are proud of his accomplishments, and the townspeople, who are jealous of his success.As the funeral progresses, it becomes clear that Merrick's legacy is more complicated than anyone had anticipated. His success had come at a cost, and he had left behind a trail of broken relationships and disappointments. The story ends with Willa reflecting on the fleeting nature of fame and the importance of living a life that is true to oneself.The Sculptor's Funeral is a powerful meditation on the nature of success, fame, and the human condition. It is a poignant reminder that even the most accomplished among us are flawed and that true success is measured not by external accomplishments but by the impact we have on the people around us.THIS 32 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE Youth and the Bright Medusa, by Willa Cather. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1417917318.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, School, American, Audiobook

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2009

About the author

Wilella Sibert Cather was born in Back Creek Valley (Gore), Virginia, in December 7, 1873.

She grew up in Virginia and Nebraska. She then attended the University of Nebraska, initially planning to become a physician, but after writing an article for the Nebraska State Journal, she became a regular contributor to this journal. Because of this, she changed her major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English.

After graduation in 1894, she worked in Pittsburgh as writer for various publications and as a school teacher for approximately 13 years, thereafter moving to New York City for the remainder of her life.

Her novels on frontier life brought her to national recognition. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, 'One of Ours' (1922), set during World War I. She travelled widely and often spent summers in New Brunswick, Canada. In later life, she experienced much negative criticism for her conservative politics and became reclusive, burning some of her letters and personal papers, including her last manuscript.

She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943. In 1944, Cather received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, an award given once a decade for an author's total accomplishments.

She died of a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 73 in New York City.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willa Cather lets it fly here!

My mother was from a very small farming community, a place she and my grandmother spoke of escaping from. Now I know why she never wanted to go to funerals.

You can read this very short play online here: https://www.10-minute-plays.com/drama...

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Scultor Cather does what she does so well, write about the interplay of a creative person returning home to the place and people who formed them, and who they ran from as far as they possibly could.

[Serkan Kasapoglu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artists often come from these types of communities. Cather is a great teller of the stories that made big personalities.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last short story for January, and it was by far my favorite. Highly recommend!

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this short story so much! It’s about a sculptor who dies and a student of his visits his hometown for his funeral. There he discovers that the people are all awful, jealous, backstabbing, and just all around not pleasant to be around. He starts to wonder how the sculptor was the way that he was - kind and full of life. He was so strong because even though he went through so much, he still kept a smile on his face. Such a great short story.

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent short-story from Willa Cather that hits close to home for me. This is the story of a small town boy that left for the big city and became successful much to the consternation of the local folks. Cather writes many stories that I can relate with about the small town boy that leaves and becomes successful but still has a yearning for the town he grew up in.

[Amelia Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

just discover Willa Cather. Fantastic author who spins a wonderful short story.

[Marianne Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

My oh my, could that Willa Cather ever write! This old well told story is just as fresh today as the day she wrote it.

[Lojy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something so inherently heart-aching when you find that wherever you are, whenever it is, death induces similar reactions.

[ReadtoDeath · Rating 3 out of 5]

read

[honeybeelexi]

she ate i fear

[Mohammadsadegh Kheirabadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

خاکسپاری پیکر تراش

[Kayleigh Papagelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is why i’m being cremated

[⋆˚࿔ mary 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

another fantastic work by Willa Cather!

[jordyn davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

very jay gatsby.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the audible version of “THE SCULPTOR’S FUNERAL” by WILLA CATHER and narrated by WALTER ZIMMERMAN. This story was first published in McClure’s Magazine in 1905. Harvey Merrick, a famous sculptor, died of tuberculosis at the age of 40. As the story begins, a group of townsfolk waits for the arrival of the night train that is bringing his body back from the East for burial in the small Kansas town where he grew up. Only one man, however, understands what Harvey has accomplished since leaving their town. The rest of the townfolk seem close minded and provincial. This is a bittersweet story about an artist who is understood by most of the world, but not by his own people. I enjoyed this story but finished it feeling very sad.

[Nathan C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course there are--or were--towns like this. But I don't like the stereotype that a "great" man is a hypersensitive sculptor or an earth-shaking lawyer, while farmers and bankers are stingy, dull, dirty opportunists who scoff at anything that is not useful to them.

I have a suspicion that Willa Cather and Ralph Moody could have grown up in the same town, among the same people, and said the same things.

Which was right?

[Steven Berbec · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first from Cather and certainly not my last. Beautiful prose. After reading it I had a longing for the South and some of the good ol' folk I have befriended over the years. In reading this piece, it felt like many of the conversations the South still engages in—some people really don't change and maybe that's not such a bad thing.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems the author could not hide her own bigoted resentment in this short story in which she wrote as the hero the most unlikely!
I read My Antonia in school and so read this short but I do not care for the author personally so, done!

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of details about small town opinions and prejudices.