Green Centuries Book

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1923. Claude Wheeler is a young man with, seemingly, everything. Well respected parents who own a good Nebraska farm that will someday belong to Claude, and he has a new wife. But Claude has bigger dreams that can't be fulfilled in this setting. His parent's are indifferent to his dreams, and his wife is only interested in her church and mission work. Then World War I comes along, and Claude sees this as his opportunity to do something meaningful with his life. I won't say what happens, but Willa Cather is a master at bringing her characters to life, and giving the reader the essence of what it was like living on the Nebraska prairie in the early 20th century. This was her home, and these were her people. The character Claude was inspired by her cousin G.P. Cather, who was born and raised on the farm next to Willas family. Like Claude, G.P. also served in WWI.

Definitely one of Willa Cather's finest achievements. Right up there with My Ántonia and O Pioneers!.

Review revised on 9/2/15.