Willa Cather

O Pioneers! Illustrated Willa Cather

O Pioneers! is a 1913 historical novel by Willa Cather that tells the story of a family of Swedish-American immigrants, living in Nebraska at the turn of the 20th century. Alexandra Bergson inherits the family farmland after the death of her father. Even though many immigrant families were leaving the prairie life at the time, Alexandra decides to devote her life to making her family farm successful. After many years, she achieves just that. However, a visit from a friend (Carl) whose family left their own farmland many years ago, and his subsequent romance with Alexandra, create a family feud, as her brothers become resentful that Carl will share in the inheritance of the farm. Not wishing to create problems, Carl leaves, and though her brothers move on, Alexandra is left alone.