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)

People on the praire transcend stereotypes

Would you consider the audio edition of My Antonia to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version, so can't comment. The reader makes an effort at what I would say are Czech accents, they are certainly somewhere in Eastern Europe, and I found them a nice addition to the experience.

What did you like best about this story?

At this point in our history (fall 2016) with the middle of the country decidedly Trump country, we need a more nuanced view of the people in the middle. This book written around 100 years predates the present political-cultural divide, but it does allude to the tough life on the plains, the movement of some away from the hard life, some that stay and the various stories that go along with individual decisions.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think the last part of the book was the most moving with the reunion of two old friends. Many questions remain about the principles, their underlying motives are lost forever, we never really know what motivates them, but we know the value of friendship, and how the prairie shapes a person to value the friends they have.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The harsh life on the prairie and the people who live on it.

Good writing, much to think about

This book is beautifully written, and I think Willa Cather probably did not sustain the popularity of other American writers because she is a woman. I can’t think of another reason. The story is interesting and depicts a way of life in a certain period of American history. What to think about: it would do well for people to consider that immigration to the US at that time was quite open for white people of European descent (the story is taking place around the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act). The book could be used for a serious discussion about immigration, the contributions of immigrants to the US, and I think in particular those people who say things like “immigrants should come legally and wait their turn just like my ancestors did” should know that their ancestors very likely didn’t have to wait if they wanted to come but had unrestricted entry. There are some troubling aspects in the book, particularly the depiction of the African-American blind pianist. I got a sense that Cather thought she was being kind or appreciative, but the stereotypes and language were awful. He had “rhythm”, and, well, stuff that I won’t bother to repeat here. I cringed. The last part troubled me a lot, too - the romanticizing of a woman who had so many kids, worked so hard, lost all her teeth (likely poor diet, poor health care, not enough money or education for either). No, this was a very hard life and very few women would honestly say that this is how a woman should be treated. If her husband truly loved her, he wouldn’t want to see her so overworked, so burdened with childbirth, nursing (you don’t read about how hard that must have been for all of those children), all the household chores and working in the fields, too. The book ends on a note as if that is the true happiness, the true good life. Sorry, I don’t buy it. Count me out. The narrator was overall very good, but I’m not convinced about his accents (the Polish fellow, for example, did not have a credible accent), but this did not detract from listening to the book. I am glad I listened to this book (one of the Audible Daily Deals) - I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of American literature.

A trip into Nebraska past prairie life

Very descriptive book I enjoyed it. I did ,however, have to slow the readers voice to .75 so I could process all that was being described.

Glorious

A story written in language so beautiful its passages will always resonate in my mind.

Now That's a Story

I really enjoy Willa Cather, and I'll put My Antonia up against any of the so-called classics we were forced to read in school.

Narrator Doesn’t Do It Justice

A classic by one of America’s finest writers. I hate to say it, but I feel the narrator doesn’t do it justice. He’s not terrible or annoying - just seems to miss the mark with this story. His cadence is not right.
If I had not read this book prior and already knew that I love it, I might not have appreciated how lovely are the story and the writing.

A great American masterpiece.

Would you consider the audio edition of My Antonia to be better than the print version?

Yes... Cather writes with wonderful descriptions of the natural world; to listen to the descriptions made them come alive.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course it is Antonia! An incredible, amazing life force. She is unforgettable.

Which scene was your favorite?

The climax, near the end, when Jim visits a disgraced Antonia, who fled her town and friends to find solace and healing in her little prairie sod house with her family. The denoument is the last chapter where after 20 years, Jim finds Antonia restored, rebuilt, yet resolute.

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

This book brings great joy; it is simplistic yet a work of art. More than a story of frontiers people, it is a love story, history, character studies, and a deep spiritual journey of life. It elicits from the reader loss and hope. If anyone has lived in the midwest, this book strikes chords of nostalgia and longing. If anyone has immigrant grandparents who made a way during that time period.. a sense of history unfolding. This is a masterpiece that is easily accessible to many readers, including young people, who should read this!

Any additional comments?

I read this as a young girl, and adored it. I wondered if it had the same message to me after 40 years. I'd say an even more powerful message...

Sweet

This is definitely not my type of book. But I really did enjoy the read given but I thought about the time period It was written. Overall I found it to be a sweet story.

Good book

"My Antonia" (emphasis on the "i") has been on my "to-read" list for a very long time. Oddly, I ended up with three versions of this book: Physical book, Kindle edition, and audio. I read all of them simultaneously. (I love doing that!) It is beautifully written by the great Willa Cather, and I understand it is very much autobiographical. Basically, it is the story of the Great Melting Pot, how foreign born families immigrated to the United States, specifically the Great Plains, and did their best to fit in, make a living, and give their children an opportunity that could not be had anywhere else in the world. It was not an easy life. These families left everything they knew, even their native languages, to come to the great unknown, with the promise of a better life. My own great-grandparents left Denmark in the late 1800s, in a similar time frame and reason as the people in this book, and brought their three young sons with them, boys who would never know their native land, or ever see it again. That takes guts, and these were gutsy people. Antonia was a strong, smart girl who grew up to raise a big family in the best way she knew how. I admire her.

With all this said, it is not the most compelling book I have ever read. Yes, I cared about the characters, and was involved with their lives, but it is not a serious page turner. It is an easy read, and may be best read by a young adult. In my opinion, it is a good book, and has many elements that make it very worthwhile reading. I just don't think I would categorize it as great. The narrator of the audio book was good, but not great either. He was easy to listen to and did a good job of reading it, but I was always conscious of his reading. He didn't suck me into the story the way a really great narrator can.

Bottom line: I really enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone wanting to know more about pioneers, and how our country became "e pluribus unum."

A Wonderful Book

My Antonia was a wonderful book, one of the best I have ever heard or read. The narrator for this audible book is outstanding, bringing the characters to life, speaking as they would speak. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.