My Antonia

By: Willa Cather

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings, Ken Burns (introduction)

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Widely recognized as Willa Cather's finest book and one of the outstanding novels of American literature, My Antonia details of the life of early American pioneers in Nebraska.

Through Jim Burden's endearing, smitten voice, we revisit the remarkable vicissitudes of immigrant life in the Nebraska heartland, with all its insistent bonds. Guiding the way are some of literature's most beguiling characters: the Russian brothers plagued by memories of a fateful sleigh ride, Antonia's desperately homesick father and self-indulgent mother, and the coy Lena Lingard. Holding the pastoral society's heart, of course, is the bewitching, free-spirited Antonia.

Infused with a gracious passion for the land, My Antonia is a deeply moving portrait of an entire community and its way of life.

Bonus: In partnership with Audible and Playtone, the television and film producer behind the award-winning series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, this audiobook includes an original introduction, written and read by acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns. For more from Audible and Playtone, click here.

©2012 Willa Cather

Critic reviews

"No romantic novel ever written in America, by man or woman, is one half so beautiful as My Antonia." (H. L. Mencken)

excellent

I first read the book 55 years ago but was not able to appreciate it. This is a quality recording of a true masterpiece.

Beautiful American classic!

Sweet and all American. Great performance and a beautiful story. Not much really 'happens' but it's a nice story of kinds and their adult lives.

just beautiful

Beautiful story. I enjoyed the narration, and I'm sorry I didn't read it years ago.

Beautiful story!

Through lovely phrases and descriptions, this book kept me smiling about long ago days, trials, and victories of these characters.

An okay read

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

meh. It was okay. Nothing gained, nothing lost.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

No idea.

What aspect of Jeff Cummings and Ken Burns (introduction) ’s performance would you have changed?

It was adequate.

Was My Antonia worth the listening time?

Barely. It was an okay read,

Any additional comments?

No.

Captivating story

I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of landscape and people, as well as the lifestyle of the early settlers in Nabraska, but Jeff Cummings’ bright, animated performance brought it all to life and kept the story flowing.

Pioneer Strength

Would you listen to My Antonia again? Why?

I read My Antonia years ago, in college, and wanted to revisit it after I recently read Death Comes for the Archbishop--a beautiful book. I would not necessarily want to listen to My Antonia again, as I am familiar with the period about which she is writing.

What other book might you compare My Antonia to and why?

I would compare it to my father's book (self-published years ago, printed on a mimeograph machine). His book, Recollections: My Folks and Fields, covers the same time span in Clay County, Alabama and describes life for the same sort of people. I am currently re-editing my father's book, getting it in hardback form to replace the ones now in libraries.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Cummings – was your favorite?

The narrator's voice was strongest.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My reaction was not extreme, but I came away with an increased admiration for the people who had the strength to be pioneers. They had so little and worked harder than most people (especially the young) can imagine in our spoiled culture.

Any additional comments?

I think this book would be good for high school students to tackle, though I doubt they would have the perseverance to get through it. Comparing their electronic, obese, pampered existences to that of the young people of Nebraska in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries would be informative.

You, sir, are no Bohemian

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator's attempts at Bohemian (Czech) accents fell short to the ears of someone who lived in Prague for five years - I would rather just have unaccented voices for the characters...

Would you recommend My Antonia to your friends? Why or why not?

This is a gentle, coming-of-age story with lovely, evocative descriptions of life in the plains, so if someone I know is looking for such a read I might recommend "My Antonia" to them.

very good reader

I rate the story 3-4 stars but the reader was a 5 star reader.! Didn't like him at first when I heard the sample but when I bought it and listened to him on my ipod he sounded better.

Well....

I had hoped to love this book, but it was just okay. In the introduction it's said this is Willa Cather's best work. I won't be reading any others. A somewhat interesting story, but ho-hum overall.