“So long as a novelist works selfishly for the pleasure of creating character and situation corresponding to his own illusions, ideals and intuitions, he will always produce something worth while and natural. Directly he takes himself too seriously and begins for the alleged benefit of humanity an elaborate dissection of complexes, he evolves a book that is more ridiculous and tiresome than the most conventional cold cream girl novel of yesterday.”
Quote by Willa Cather
Work
Willa Cather in person: interviews, speeches, and letters
This volume gathers documentary evidence of Willa Cather's public voice and private reflections, offering direct access to the author's statements about her life and work. The compilation includes journalistic interviews conducted during her career, formal speeches delivered on various occasions, and selected letters that illuminate her personal and professional relationships. These materials collectively provide insight into Cather's perspectives on literature, her creative process, and the cultural contexts in which she wrote. The collection serves as a resource for understanding how Cather presented herself to contemporaries and how she articulated her views on the American experience, particularly the frontier and immigrant communities that figure prominently in her fiction. As an assembly of first-person documents, the book allows readers to encounter Cather without the mediation of critical interpretation, though the editorial selection and arrangement of materials shape the portrait that emerges. more
Author
Willa Cather
American author known for her depictions of the American Midwest. Cather's works often feature female protagonists, showcasing their resilience and growth in challenging environments. Her notable works include 'My Ántonia' and 'O Pioneers!' more
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“youth, when it is hurt, likes to feel itself betrayed.”
Source: The Novels and Stories of Willa Cather ...
Source: Quinctilian's Institutes of Eloquence: Or, The Art of Speaking in Public, in Every Character and Capacity
“Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.”
“Satiety is a neighbor to continued pleasures. [Lat., Continuis voluptatibus vicina satietas.]”
“Suffering itself does less afflict the senses than the apprehension of suffering.”