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)

zzzzzzz

A Cather classic...but, I kept waiting for some excitement and all that I got was cows growing and lowing. The story of a turn of the (20th) century Nebraska family scratching out a living on the prairie. Also, it traces an extremely resilient girl who grows to womanhood as farm wife and whelps out ten children. To the author's credit, the characters are well developed and I felt that I knew each by the time the story was finis. I kept waiting for Jim and Antonia to run away and live happily ever after; sadly, nothing happened.zzzzz

My first taste of Willa Cather

I loved this book. It is a beautifully written story that uses the lost art of prose to weave its story with adult themes like immigration, racism, depression, suicide, and adultery, instead of being explicitly graphic and leaving nothing to the imagination.

I can't believe I've taken this long to discover Willa Cather. Even though it was published in 1918, its story is very relevant today. This would be a great book to listen to with a family as a conversation starter with older kids.

Immigrants Rule!

Would you listen to My Antonia again? Why?

Maybe. There are parts of it that are so well written I'd love to hear them again.

What did you like best about this story?

The immense strength of our immigrant fore-bearers. As opposed to the lack of ambition of our native born American fore-bearers.

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

Women triumphing over environment.

Classic American Novel

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Vivid picture of early American rural life. Wonderful story of small town life, growing up and the friends, family and experiences that shape a person.

Should Be Required Reading In School

I fell in love with this book within the first few minutes of the audio. The rich detail Cather brings is from a time when these memories are still fresh yet passed within the pages of turn-of-the-century industry. I'll never forget such details as the tub behind the stove or the snake killed in the dog town.

This book is also a reminder that although the immigration period and prairie were tough, there was a certain fulfillment of entertainment. Also, it is a reminder that the women of the day were not as passive and downtrodden as thought back upon. Within these pages, which are laid out like precious memories of the author, we encounter business women, strong daughters who become mothers and granddaughters and even female prospectors.

If I had children, I'd encourage them to read this. It is not my own immigrant story, as my English and Scottish ancestors came and stayed mostly on the east coast. But it is the story of my husband's ancestors. For this, I have gained so much more appreciation for the family I've newly acquired and come to appreciate even more now that I've read this story.

What a lovely human story

This book was my introduction to Willa Cather and I am so pleased to finally meet her. For some reason I had anticipated a sad tale, full of woe and regret and, while there is some opportunity in its happenings to wallow in such, the author gave us instead full life in its myriad joys and sorrows. The characters respond to their circumstances in ways that fit their wishes and personalities, and their knowledge that life simply is, and they make the best of it. It is uplifting and very human. The narration fitted the writing well, and I recommend it highly, especially for the young adult reader.

Good book

This was a good book....a 3-4 star for me, which isnt a bad thing. It is a very nice story about innocence. And after some books I had listened to , I was ready for a book like this. The narration was excellent... It was sweet, honest, and reminded me of my own childhood in a way. For a good listen on the simple things in life, this is a book to appreciate.

A Let down

Thought it would be fun to buy as I grew up on farm about 100 yrs later. My story would be about the same and about as boring. It might appeal to young readers who want to look back on a life style, but not for many. It is well written and very well read. However, it is just a diary and not what we now think of as a novel

Beautiful

I listened for school and it was much more enjoyable than reading it. Great listen!

Better read than listened to

There were lovely, lyrical passages that the narration seemed to speed through, none of the stillness of prairie life in the performance. As far as the story itself there were some cringe worthy moments of racism, maybe what you could expect from the era but not ok by today’s standards, might have been easier to deal with if you didn’t have to listen to it read so glibly.