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Neighbor Rosicky
0395459958 (ISBN13: 9780395459959)
73 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
5 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Willa Cather
880 books2,776 followersWilella Sibert Cather was born in Back Creek Valley (Gore), Virginia, in December 7, 1873.
She grew up in Virginia and Nebraska. She then attended the University of Nebraska, initially planning to become a physician, but after writing an article for the Nebraska State Journal, she became a regular contributor to this journal. Because of this, she changed her major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English.
After graduation in 1894, she worked in Pittsburgh as writer for various publications and as a school teacher for approximately 13 years, thereafter moving to New York City for the remainder of her life.
Her novels on frontier life brought her to national recognition. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, 'One of Ours' (1922), set during World War I. She travelled widely and often spent summers in New Brunswick, Canada. In later life, she experienced much negative criticism for her conservative politics and became reclusive, burning some of her letters and personal papers, including her last manuscript.
She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943. In 1944, Cather received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, an award given once a decade for an author's total accomplishments.
She died of a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 73 in New York City.
She grew up in Virginia and Nebraska. She then attended the University of Nebraska, initially planning to become a physician, but after writing an article for the Nebraska State Journal, she became a regular contributor to this journal. Because of this, she changed her major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English.
After graduation in 1894, she worked in Pittsburgh as writer for various publications and as a school teacher for approximately 13 years, thereafter moving to New York City for the remainder of her life.
Her novels on frontier life brought her to national recognition. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, 'One of Ours' (1922), set during World War I. She travelled widely and often spent summers in New Brunswick, Canada. In later life, she experienced much negative criticism for her conservative politics and became reclusive, burning some of her letters and personal papers, including her last manuscript.
She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943. In 1944, Cather received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, an award given once a decade for an author's total accomplishments.
She died of a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 73 in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 16, 2021
"Köyde, eğer kötü bir komşun varsa onun arazisinden uzak durup, onu da kendi arazinden uzak tutabilirsin. Ama şehirde, komşunuzun tüm pislik, sefalet ve barbarlığı hayatınızın bir parçasıdır. Dünyadaki yolculuğu boyunca karşılaştığı en kötü şeyler insanlardı, ahlaksız ve zehirli türden insanlar. Geçmişe dönüp baktığında, Londra sokaklarında karşılaştığı korkunç yüzleri hala hatırlayabiliyordu."
Taşrada kendi çiftliğinde yaşayan, göçmen Rosickylerin aile olmayı ön planda tutarak yaşadıkları hayata dair kısa ve çok sıcak bir hikaye. Ancak bu tatlı hikayeyi anlatırken alt metinde hem üretici çalışkan bir çiftçi kimliği üzerinden, "Amerikan Rüyası" olarak ortaya konan kolay yoldan bir hayata sahip olma açgözlülüğüne bir eleştiri niteliğinde. Benim çok sevdiğim bir öykü olsu, çiftlik hayatı ve aileye dair tatlı bir hikaye okumak isterseniz mutlaka göz atın.
Taşrada kendi çiftliğinde yaşayan, göçmen Rosickylerin aile olmayı ön planda tutarak yaşadıkları hayata dair kısa ve çok sıcak bir hikaye. Ancak bu tatlı hikayeyi anlatırken alt metinde hem üretici çalışkan bir çiftçi kimliği üzerinden, "Amerikan Rüyası" olarak ortaya konan kolay yoldan bir hayata sahip olma açgözlülüğüne bir eleştiri niteliğinde. Benim çok sevdiğim bir öykü olsu, çiftlik hayatı ve aileye dair tatlı bir hikaye okumak isterseniz mutlaka göz atın.
August 15, 2022
Il 3 agosto mi sono accorta che su Audible erano presenti quattro audiolibri su dei racconti di Willa Cather. Ne ho così approfittato: non conoscevo la scrittrice e gli audiolibri erano di lunghezza breve e quindi si poteva provare.
Tre di questi sono Edizioni dell'Asino, tra cui "Il vicino Rosicky" letto da Massimo Polipizio.
Il racconto è stato pubblicato per la prima volta nel 1928 e non ho ancora capito in quale raccolta italiana sia contenuto: compare nella raccolta inglese "Obscure Destinies".
Ne "Il vicino Rosicky", Willa Cather punta i riflettori sulla condizione dell'immigrato: nonostante le considizioni difficili, in cui ogni immigrato è costretto a vivere, la sua nuova qualità della vita ha sempre la meglio sul successo materiale.
Il racconto a distanza di quasi cento anni è ancora attuale: esso offre al lettore la possibilità di volgere uno sguardo benevolo sulla condizione umana:
"Ogni cosa qui sembrava stranamente commovente e significativa, sebbene non ne conoscesse il significato."
L'ascolto dell'audiolibro dura un'ora e mezza: non ha quindi senso scrivere un commento lungo ;).
Vi consiglio vivamente di scoprire questa scrittrice: merita!
Tre di questi sono Edizioni dell'Asino, tra cui "Il vicino Rosicky" letto da Massimo Polipizio.
Il racconto è stato pubblicato per la prima volta nel 1928 e non ho ancora capito in quale raccolta italiana sia contenuto: compare nella raccolta inglese "Obscure Destinies".
Ne "Il vicino Rosicky", Willa Cather punta i riflettori sulla condizione dell'immigrato: nonostante le considizioni difficili, in cui ogni immigrato è costretto a vivere, la sua nuova qualità della vita ha sempre la meglio sul successo materiale.
Il racconto a distanza di quasi cento anni è ancora attuale: esso offre al lettore la possibilità di volgere uno sguardo benevolo sulla condizione umana:
"Ogni cosa qui sembrava stranamente commovente e significativa, sebbene non ne conoscesse il significato."
L'ascolto dell'audiolibro dura un'ora e mezza: non ha quindi senso scrivere un commento lungo ;).
Vi consiglio vivamente di scoprire questa scrittrice: merita!
June 23, 2024
★★★★☆ 4.25 stars
"Ciò che veramente Rosicky si augurava per i suoi figli, era che potessero attraversare il mondo senza dover mai conoscere la crudeltà della natura umana".
"Ciò che veramente Rosicky si augurava per i suoi figli, era che potessero attraversare il mondo senza dover mai conoscere la crudeltà della natura umana".
April 24, 2016
A classic Cather tale of Rosicky, who had a heart as big as the prairie he called home. The patriarch of a struggling Bohemian family who earned the love and respect of everyone who knew him. Cather told a version of this story dozens of times, but each one is as fresh and endearing as the last.
January 13, 2023
Every once in a while I read or watch something with a character that I want to be a real person so desperately, not so I can be their friend but so I can know there's someone like them in the world. Rosicky is one of those characters. He makes me want to savor life and recognize beauty and put my effort into things that matter. I'm not sure there is anyone in the real world quite like Rosicky, but there are bits of him in a lot of people out there, and that makes me grateful and hopeful for humanity.
I reread this regularly and would recommend it to everyone I know - it's a short story and can be finished in under an hour. You can find it for free online.
I reread this regularly and would recommend it to everyone I know - it's a short story and can be finished in under an hour. You can find it for free online.
April 4, 2022
Rosicky is the ideal husband because he does the dishes.
September 17, 2023
Altmışını geçmiş yorgun çiftçi Anton ve sevimli ailesinin evine misafiriz. Karlı bir kış gününde doğanın tüm renklerinin beyaza bürünmeye başladığı, uzak ve şehirlerde geçen geçmişin zihinlere uğradığı, uçsuz bucaksız bozkırların, irili ufaklı çiftliklerin sıralandığı bu sakin kasaba tatlı hayatın simgesi gibidir. Birçok zorluk ve yoklukla imtihan olsalar da hanenin birlikteliği ve kırsal kesimin enginliğiyle aile neşenin hakimiyetindedir.
Son zamanlarda sık tekrarladığımız böyle insanlar kaldı mı sorusuna yanıt olabilecek nitelikte bir kahraman ile bu dünya için fazla iyi olan bir adamla karşı karşıyayız esasında.
Son zamanlarda sık tekrarladığımız böyle insanlar kaldı mı sorusuna yanıt olabilecek nitelikte bir kahraman ile bu dünya için fazla iyi olan bir adamla karşı karşıyayız esasında.
April 6, 2021
In the twilight of his years an immigrant looks back on life, while keeping an eye on the present.
Story Review: "Neighbor Rosicky," first published in 1930, is taken from the story collection Obscure Destinies (1932) by Willa Cather (1873-1947). Many Americans think there is nothing of interest between Chicago and Denver, and anyone who has driven the speed limit through Nebraska or Kansas would be inclined to agree. This neglected part of the country is the region Cather chose to write about in novels such as O Pioneers! (1913) and My Ántonia (1918). Despite the poor marketing choice, she wrote powerful and affecting books from this setting. "Neighbor Rosicky" shows us the immigrant experience without exaggeration, and argues that despite harsh conditions quality of life is more important than material success. It is touching and heartwarming, but even in these ironic times there must be a place for the poignant (when this side of cloying). Cather succeeds in keeping the story realistic, showing the importance of family, support, and generosity to immigrant success. My takeaway was one of those archaic instructions for life: "Be a little nicer than you have to be." "Neighbor Rosicky" isn't a triumph of multi-levular significance or sub-textural imagery; it's a slice of life, a peek at the human condition. And that's okay. [4★]
Story Review: "Neighbor Rosicky," first published in 1930, is taken from the story collection Obscure Destinies (1932) by Willa Cather (1873-1947). Many Americans think there is nothing of interest between Chicago and Denver, and anyone who has driven the speed limit through Nebraska or Kansas would be inclined to agree. This neglected part of the country is the region Cather chose to write about in novels such as O Pioneers! (1913) and My Ántonia (1918). Despite the poor marketing choice, she wrote powerful and affecting books from this setting. "Neighbor Rosicky" shows us the immigrant experience without exaggeration, and argues that despite harsh conditions quality of life is more important than material success. It is touching and heartwarming, but even in these ironic times there must be a place for the poignant (when this side of cloying). Cather succeeds in keeping the story realistic, showing the importance of family, support, and generosity to immigrant success. My takeaway was one of those archaic instructions for life: "Be a little nicer than you have to be." "Neighbor Rosicky" isn't a triumph of multi-levular significance or sub-textural imagery; it's a slice of life, a peek at the human condition. And that's okay. [4★]
May 5, 2023
Yalın ve çok güçlü bir metin. Çiftçi Rosicky karakterimiz üzerinden yüzünü betona değil yeşile çeviren bizlere de ayna tutuyor. Sadeliği çok şık ve etkileyici. Bir tık daha uzun ve oyuncaklı olabilseymiş tamamen kusursuzlaşabilirmiş. Şu haliyle de kabulüm kendisine elbette. Çünkü gücünü yalınlığından alıyor.
November 17, 2021
Kısacık ama çok güçlü bir Metin
May 23, 2023
Read in 2017 and 2023.
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Per my original review, i still enjoy this book.
Thank you to my neighbor, Mrs Makuch for giveing me this book.
The Characters were so fun and interesting to read about. Mr. Rosicky and Polly were my favorites.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Classic Short Story Read!! Can't wait to read more by Willa in the future!!
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Per my original review, i still enjoy this book.
Thank you to my neighbor, Mrs Makuch for giveing me this book.
The Characters were so fun and interesting to read about. Mr. Rosicky and Polly were my favorites.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Classic Short Story Read!! Can't wait to read more by Willa in the future!!
April 1, 2020
An incredibly touching story. Rosicky is a wonderful picture of meekness and self command. You'll enjoy following his thoughtful moments, the playful banter with his wife, and his heart for his children and daughter-in-law.
February 16, 2018
"At the door he fell. When Mary came in, she found him lying there, and the moment she touched him she knew that he was gone"
October 22, 2024
For school. Not nearly as awful as “My Antonia”
Read
July 29, 2024Molto carino, trasmette serenità.
April 15, 2024
This novel threw a wrench on my values and made me think about what made a man good.
That Christmas scene and the ending got me ghurl 😭
That Christmas scene and the ending got me ghurl 😭
January 6, 2012
This long short story became a part of my life in the early 1960s when Dr. Robert Thomas of Brigham Young University read it in its entirety to our literature class, which brought tears to my eyes several times. I was so touched by the sensitive writing of the author and of the life of this extraordinary man that I memorized parts of the story and have given them as readings at Thanksgiving and Christmas for over 45 years. It is my favorite of Willa Cather.
November 22, 2022
3’7⭐️
If I have to choose one of Willa Cather’s stories, I will prefer to focus on “Neighbour Rosicky” since it really stood out for me. One of the main things that caught my eye was the duality of the city and the country. Throughout the story, Cather shows us through her main characters the good and the bad parts of both environments, positioning some characters on each side of the balance.
For instance, Rosicky is fond of country life and is always telling his children that it is better to have land than to work for another. This vision was caused by his past experiences working in an industrial town when he immigrated to the city. For him, it was better to have something of their own, where someone could live peacefully. Even if he was a lacy farmer, he lived a good life in the countryside with his wife and children. For him, living on the city was considered as being a slave of the capitalism and the industrial life: “To be a landless man was to be a wage-earner, a slave, all your life; to have nothing, to be nothing.”
Another character that reinforces this point of view is his daughter in law. Polly is his son’s wife and she had always lived in the city. That is why Rosicky and his wife were afraid of Polly dumping their son due to their boring life in the country as farmers. However, when Rosicky offers her the car to go to the city, she is not really excited, since, for her, the city has nothing to offer to poor people: “Dem big cities is all right fur de rich, but dey is terrible hard fur de poor.” In this sentence, we can see that her life in the city was not as good as the main character believed it to be.
On the contrary, Rosickys’ children are really excited to go to the city since they wanted to see the Christmas shows and stores. For them, the city is something shiny and full of life that has plenty of opportunities for them since they have not really experienced the cruelties of industrial life. For instance, when Rudolph complains about the country life, his father claims that living in cities is more cruel and difficult: “You boys don’t know what hard times is. You don’t owe nobody, you got plenty to eat an’ keep warm, an’ plenty water to keep clean. When you got them, you can’t have it very hard.”
Nevertheless, when he is remembering some of his moments in the city, he can also find some good memories of his life there. He said that he liked living in a loft, that he could go to the opera and drink as much as he wanted on Saturdays: “They were both fond of music and went to the opera together. Rosicky thought he wanted to live like that for ever.”
This way of thinking was soon replaced, and a profound hate for that city life began to rule in his thoughts. He started seeing the city as a prison. He even compared the workers’ lives with the repetitive life of the fishes at the aquarium: “Those blank buildings, without the stream of life pouring through them, were like empty jails. It struck young Rosicky that this was the trouble with big cities; they built you in from the earth itself, cemented you away from any contact with the ground. You lived in an unnatural world, like the fish in an aquarium.”
All of these arguments leave us with a social reflection about capitalism and industrialism. I personally believe that large cities are only glamorous and ideal for rich people. As an example, we can use the city of Los Ángeles. It is one of the most famous and rich cities in the USA. However, it also has one of the highest numbers of homeless people in the country. That is why I agree with Polly when she claims that the city does not have anything to offer to poor people. Working in large cities is also complicated, since sometimes the salary would not be enough to survive and save money at the same time. This situation was lived by Rosicky himself during his years at the city: “He often did overtime work and was well paid for it, but somehow he never saved anything.”
If I have to choose one of Willa Cather’s stories, I will prefer to focus on “Neighbour Rosicky” since it really stood out for me. One of the main things that caught my eye was the duality of the city and the country. Throughout the story, Cather shows us through her main characters the good and the bad parts of both environments, positioning some characters on each side of the balance.
For instance, Rosicky is fond of country life and is always telling his children that it is better to have land than to work for another. This vision was caused by his past experiences working in an industrial town when he immigrated to the city. For him, it was better to have something of their own, where someone could live peacefully. Even if he was a lacy farmer, he lived a good life in the countryside with his wife and children. For him, living on the city was considered as being a slave of the capitalism and the industrial life: “To be a landless man was to be a wage-earner, a slave, all your life; to have nothing, to be nothing.”
Another character that reinforces this point of view is his daughter in law. Polly is his son’s wife and she had always lived in the city. That is why Rosicky and his wife were afraid of Polly dumping their son due to their boring life in the country as farmers. However, when Rosicky offers her the car to go to the city, she is not really excited, since, for her, the city has nothing to offer to poor people: “Dem big cities is all right fur de rich, but dey is terrible hard fur de poor.” In this sentence, we can see that her life in the city was not as good as the main character believed it to be.
On the contrary, Rosickys’ children are really excited to go to the city since they wanted to see the Christmas shows and stores. For them, the city is something shiny and full of life that has plenty of opportunities for them since they have not really experienced the cruelties of industrial life. For instance, when Rudolph complains about the country life, his father claims that living in cities is more cruel and difficult: “You boys don’t know what hard times is. You don’t owe nobody, you got plenty to eat an’ keep warm, an’ plenty water to keep clean. When you got them, you can’t have it very hard.”
Nevertheless, when he is remembering some of his moments in the city, he can also find some good memories of his life there. He said that he liked living in a loft, that he could go to the opera and drink as much as he wanted on Saturdays: “They were both fond of music and went to the opera together. Rosicky thought he wanted to live like that for ever.”
This way of thinking was soon replaced, and a profound hate for that city life began to rule in his thoughts. He started seeing the city as a prison. He even compared the workers’ lives with the repetitive life of the fishes at the aquarium: “Those blank buildings, without the stream of life pouring through them, were like empty jails. It struck young Rosicky that this was the trouble with big cities; they built you in from the earth itself, cemented you away from any contact with the ground. You lived in an unnatural world, like the fish in an aquarium.”
All of these arguments leave us with a social reflection about capitalism and industrialism. I personally believe that large cities are only glamorous and ideal for rich people. As an example, we can use the city of Los Ángeles. It is one of the most famous and rich cities in the USA. However, it also has one of the highest numbers of homeless people in the country. That is why I agree with Polly when she claims that the city does not have anything to offer to poor people. Working in large cities is also complicated, since sometimes the salary would not be enough to survive and save money at the same time. This situation was lived by Rosicky himself during his years at the city: “He often did overtime work and was well paid for it, but somehow he never saved anything.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2018
This is such a precious little novella. I listened to it as an audiobook... I am usually quite easily distracted when listening to audiobooks but I drank all of the words of this novella like water. It is what I think everyone needs. A humanly bittersweet, previous, heartfelt and heartwarming little story. It is basically a self-remembrance / life story of an elderly man living a jovial, tranquil lifestyle loving it... and you see how he got to appreciate and enjoy this lifestyle. A lot of people would think of it as a given, but not necessarily that the calm neighbour we have who enjoys the little things in life might not have lived such a life all his/her life. It also depicted so lovely family dynamics with all the nuisances but also with the unbreakable bond and the ability to trust each other. So beautiful.
December 24, 2020
Wonderful story! Supposedly it's easy to write about a person who is wicked, but hard to write about one who is good. But for Cather, it's easy. Happily for the reader, good people appear in most of her stories, and their goodness provokes wonderment and yearning. And sadness too, though it's not brought about by what happens to them. The members of Rosicky's family all love and value one another. This family is one that we all want to have as our own, or to have as neighbors and friends, to be a part of our circle. This story should be read by young people in school to show what life can be and what it is possible for us to be. The rewards of loving and being loved in return are what make up "the good life." The story brings forth tears because this is a portrait of the true American Dream.
October 22, 2019
I've read this short story years ago in a community college class. It is the first work I've read by Willa Cather, whom up to that point I had never heard of her.
Willa Cather's beautiful writing style puts the characters straight into your heart and they stay there as if they're your own people.
The connection I had felt at the time with these characters was so strong that eventually the story broke my heart (not pan intended for those who have read it). I felt the effect for a while, but it wasn't a negative effect, just a human bittersweet sorrow that carries good memories within it -- It is a deeply touching beautiful story.
It's been years, so I don't remember everything, but I remember how I felt about it.
Willa Cather's beautiful writing style puts the characters straight into your heart and they stay there as if they're your own people.
The connection I had felt at the time with these characters was so strong that eventually the story broke my heart (not pan intended for those who have read it). I felt the effect for a while, but it wasn't a negative effect, just a human bittersweet sorrow that carries good memories within it -- It is a deeply touching beautiful story.
It's been years, so I don't remember everything, but I remember how I felt about it.
August 22, 2017
Five star bc she is my favorite author and this is a sweet story. The patriarch sets an example for how he hopes his family will live. He's had it tough and he knows what's important and tries to share that with his boys. He isn't a worrier and knows how to enjoy life.
May 7, 2020
Read this for an english assignment and I really liked it. It was kinda hard to get into it but when u get used to old fashioned english it becomes so much easier to understand and its a really good short story.
December 7, 2022
With every story/novel I read by Willa Cather, the more endearing and heartfelt are the portraits she paints. I loved this story. Beautiful in its simplicity and yet complex in the layers of the life she beholds. If you come from European immigrant stock, Willa Cather knows your people.
January 22, 2018
*crying*
April 15, 2018
A sweet little story, reminding you of the importance of the people in your life and their happiness rather than worrying about "getting ahead." I truly enjoyed it.
November 14, 2018
I thought Rosicky wouldn't die. I thought he escaped the death once so he could escape through the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2019
My favorite American short story, demonstrating the resilience of the American dream. Rosicky loves his family and this great American land. This story teaches us how to live well.
September 6, 2020
Among the best short stories ever.
Read
February 14, 2021Read for uni, so no rating, but I really enjoyed the writing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews