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The Pittsburgh Stories of Willa Cather
In these six stories, Willa Cather vividly captures the character of early 1900s Pittsburgh, a place she called home during her formative years as a writer. She depicts a city a where culture is beginning to take root, rising from the harsh industrial landscape. Her characters, ranging from a skinny young usher boy to an elderly doctor, seek meaning in music, art, and human connection. Through them, Cather explores the dual nature of art as a higher purpose. Art tugs at the edges of human emotion, inspiring a sense of wonder, but also instilling an insatiable longing for beauty in a disorderly world. Cather deftly captures transient moments of brilliance and pain to convince us of this fundamental truth.
- GenresShort Stories
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Willa Cather
956 books2,827 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2024
Un sottile libretto che contiene due formidabili racconti (il primo in particolare modo) e una postfazione del bravo e attento traduttore Manuppelli. La scrittura di Cather, che conoscevo per aver letto e apprezzato Il mio nemico mortale e soprattutto Una signora perduta, è elegante, raffinata nelle immagini, capace di pennellare particolari che rendono come in un’istantanea la psicologia complessa dei suoi personaggi. Talvolta non procede in punta di piedi ma esplicita/spiega un po’ troppo, ma sempre con garbo e rispetto del lettore, che accompagna con mano ferma dove lei vuole.
June 12, 2018
Due racconti perfetti per conoscere lo stile di una scrittrice che ha vinto il Pulitzer per la narrativa nel 1923. La scrittura di Willa Cather è essenziale, eppure ricca di immagini vivide, mentre affronta temi universali: il bisogno del singolo di distinguersi dalla massa, l'eterna dicotomia tra la routine di provincia e le promesse di benessere e crescita culturale della grande città, i confini tra vita pratica e ideali artistici. Ho amato entrambe le storie e, pur capendo la frustrazione del giovane Paul nella prima, mi sono lasciata irretire da un personaggio così sfaccettato come Kitty nella seconda. Una nota di merito anche alla bella edizione realizzata da Mattioli, con una postfazione che ha solo amplificato il mio desiderio di continuare a leggere quest'autrice.
November 21, 2016
3.5 stars
December 14, 2025
I have always enjoyed Willa Cather, but I did not know that there was a Pittsburgh connection. She lived in Pittsburgh in her twenties, and visited annually in her 30s. She worked in journalism and taught Latin in the public high schools. These short stories provided a glimpse into early 20th century Pittsburgh...the mix of industrial pollution associated with the city and the verdant adjacent hills and valleys. One hears anecdotes of the sooty fog of Pittsburgh, and how the street lamps were often needed during the day, and how business men changed shirts at lunch time because they became dirty from the grime. Her stories portrayed this past. Out of the 6 short stories, the themes of music (and artists) especially stood out.
December 29, 2025
Each story is a jewel - even if it rips your heart out. 'Paul's Case' is heartbreaking.
August 24, 2017
Il caso di Paul e Una scarpetta d’oro sono le due storie che animano I racconti di Pittsburgh di Willa Cather, premio Pulitzer nel 1923 per Uno di noi. Il primo trae ispirazione da un caso di cronaca, la scrittrice americana lo plasma a proprio piacimento fino a renderlo un caso di studio, come suggerisce il titolo.
Ci sono due città opposte, la provinciale Pittsburgh, punto d’origine dell’analisi della Cather, in cui si fatica a far emergere la propria individualità, ogni stravaganza è osservata con sospetto; New York, svincolata dai pregiudizi e dai ruoli. Nel mezzo una ricchezza di vita che trova ostacoli di ogni genere. Paul e l’affermazione dell’identità personale, Kitty e McKann si scontrano in quel territorio neutro, il treno, che li porterà verso la Grande Mela nell’eterna diatriba del disequilibrio tra uomo e donna.
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Ci sono due città opposte, la provinciale Pittsburgh, punto d’origine dell’analisi della Cather, in cui si fatica a far emergere la propria individualità, ogni stravaganza è osservata con sospetto; New York, svincolata dai pregiudizi e dai ruoli. Nel mezzo una ricchezza di vita che trova ostacoli di ogni genere. Paul e l’affermazione dell’identità personale, Kitty e McKann si scontrano in quel territorio neutro, il treno, che li porterà verso la Grande Mela nell’eterna diatriba del disequilibrio tra uomo e donna.
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March 16, 2024
Six short stories written by Willa Cather during her years in Pittsburgh at the turn of the 20th Century.
I found most of the stories ended sadly. I liked the last story best, about an uncle and nephew who lived together, and both had lived their lives for themselves rather than how society said they should although the uncle lived vicariously through the singer he launched. The nephew felt glad that he spend his share of the family money traveling and enjoying himself instead of keeping up appearances of a big house and a job he did not like. There was hope at the end of it as he rekindles a relationship from Italy.
Paul's case was sad. He wants art and culture in his life. His father believes in hard work, nose to the grindstone. So Paul decides to live a little. I have questions about the ending.
Uncle Valentine was sad. He comes home after years away after a scandal caused his marriage to fail. He explains it to his friend Charlotte. Then his ex-wife returns and does something I consider to be so nasty and painful to Valentine. Though she is only talked about, I did not like the ex-wife.
I cannot remember the names of the other three stories. I did feel bad for the man who was called home from Paris as his group of friends learn about their neighbor. I also felt sad for the school master who retires realizing he did not take risks and lived a staid life knowing his students would be working in the steel mills after graduation.
Willa Cather's writing was phenomenal. Her descriptions put you in the person's shoes. You see exactly what she sees. You feel what the character feels. I was glad I read these.
I found most of the stories ended sadly. I liked the last story best, about an uncle and nephew who lived together, and both had lived their lives for themselves rather than how society said they should although the uncle lived vicariously through the singer he launched. The nephew felt glad that he spend his share of the family money traveling and enjoying himself instead of keeping up appearances of a big house and a job he did not like. There was hope at the end of it as he rekindles a relationship from Italy.
Paul's case was sad. He wants art and culture in his life. His father believes in hard work, nose to the grindstone. So Paul decides to live a little. I have questions about the ending.
Uncle Valentine was sad. He comes home after years away after a scandal caused his marriage to fail. He explains it to his friend Charlotte. Then his ex-wife returns and does something I consider to be so nasty and painful to Valentine. Though she is only talked about, I did not like the ex-wife.
I cannot remember the names of the other three stories. I did feel bad for the man who was called home from Paris as his group of friends learn about their neighbor. I also felt sad for the school master who retires realizing he did not take risks and lived a staid life knowing his students would be working in the steel mills after graduation.
Willa Cather's writing was phenomenal. Her descriptions put you in the person's shoes. You see exactly what she sees. You feel what the character feels. I was glad I read these.
December 31, 2016
Though she grew up mostly in Nebraska, and her best known fiction is set there, Cather actually spent her formative professional years in Pittsburgh (1896-1906) and returned regularly for another decade. the late Peter Oresick culled her only six stories set in Pittsburgh for this collection. One is well-known, the amazing "Paul's Case," but the rest of this collection is pretty solid too, including the unsparing "The Professor's Commencement" (about a school teacher who is retiring), the complex family story "Uncle Valentine" and the curious "Double Birthday," about two men, an older and younger relative who share a birthday, both scions of a formerly affluent family that squandered its wealth. Cather's a terrific writer, and these stories are among the only fictional portraits of Pittsburgh in the early 20th century -- a heavily industrialized town with a tenuous grasp on arts and culture that Cather frequently keys on -- by a canonical author.
March 18, 2021
This book is a compilation of short stories Ms. Cather wrote that are set in Pittsburgh, where she lived for some time. There is a wonderful listing of the addresses she lived and worked at the time and although many of the buildings are no longer standing, it would be interesting to go to the locations listed.
The stories are more somber than her more famous novels, but the characters are well described and she makes you understand why many of them are the way they are-likeable or not!. It describes the city as it was then, a smoky, messy industrial city which is slowly changing with the introduction of the arts in theater and music.
In the book there are many Pittsburgh landmarks that are part of the stories, including the Carnegie Music Hall, the train stations, East Liberty, the southside slopes, Mt Washington, Fox Hill and what is now known as the Strip District. If you are from the area it is enjoyable to know exactly where the reference is.
The stories are more somber than her more famous novels, but the characters are well described and she makes you understand why many of them are the way they are-likeable or not!. It describes the city as it was then, a smoky, messy industrial city which is slowly changing with the introduction of the arts in theater and music.
In the book there are many Pittsburgh landmarks that are part of the stories, including the Carnegie Music Hall, the train stations, East Liberty, the southside slopes, Mt Washington, Fox Hill and what is now known as the Strip District. If you are from the area it is enjoyable to know exactly where the reference is.
January 22, 2022
I’m not sure this Pittsburgh heavy configuration of Cather stories needed to exist, but I’m a sucker so I’ll read it anyway. Shining here is a strong voice for the experience of performing artists, and her everlasting wry humor.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews