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Five Stories
A collection of five short stories about life in the turn-of-the-century American West
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
6 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Willa Cather
892 books2,784 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 25, 2016
Having read a couple of Cather's books and enjoyed them, I was interested in reading this collection of short stories when the title fit the reading theme for the month (numbers). The stories were an interesting cross-section of her style and I finally decided the thing that linked them all was the concept of a defining space in one's life. The first story is a legendary place spoken of by boys around a campfire. The second story is discovery of an ancient cliff-dwelling city in the desert Southwest which becomes the passion of the main character. The third, my favorite story, Neighbor Rossicky, deals with a farmer's love of the land for its own sake and for the way it grounds his family. The fourth (also very good), The Best Years, talks about the place in life where we are struggling to define ourselves as the best part of us. And the last story dealt with a confused young man whose ideal space was the world of wealth and privilege he wanted to occupy simply for the feeling of it and not for the material things it would bring. All interesting.
The essay at the end about the unfinished story she was writing when she died and which was burned at her instruction was also interesting. I learned a lot about her work and her view of life and could see bits of those reflected in the stories I had just read.
The essay at the end about the unfinished story she was writing when she died and which was burned at her instruction was also interesting. I learned a lot about her work and her view of life and could see bits of those reflected in the stories I had just read.
November 17, 2016
AS a huge fan of the American West, I was thrilled with her precise and poetic descriptions of the indescribable. She was a truly great american writer, and was drawn to loving descriptions of the essential goodness of people, something completely ignored today except by George Saunders, who leavens his goodness with a healthy layer of irony to make his work palatable to the modern misanthrope.
September 25, 2021
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars
One must have nerves of steel to open a Willa Cather novel. I read One of Ours over the summer and decided read this after spotting it at a book exchange.
The Enchanted Bluff: Interesting, short, and melancholy about childhood dreams never coming to be.
Tom Outland's Story: This is my second favorite. I like the narrative of the beautiful country. As Tom says, "It was the sort of place a man would like to stay forever." However, the ending leaves readers sad.
Neighbor Rosicky: Although predictable, this is my favorite. Again, the narrative is great and Rosicky is impossible not to like.
The Best Years: I was about done with sadness by the time I reached this story and knowing Cather, this one was bound to be as sad as the rest. Therefore, I didn't enjoy this one at the time I read it.
Paul's Case: Absolutely dark and dreary. Paul, why?!
One must have nerves of steel to open a Willa Cather novel. I read One of Ours over the summer and decided read this after spotting it at a book exchange.
The Enchanted Bluff: Interesting, short, and melancholy about childhood dreams never coming to be.
Tom Outland's Story: This is my second favorite. I like the narrative of the beautiful country. As Tom says, "It was the sort of place a man would like to stay forever." However, the ending leaves readers sad.
Neighbor Rosicky: Although predictable, this is my favorite. Again, the narrative is great and Rosicky is impossible not to like.
The Best Years: I was about done with sadness by the time I reached this story and knowing Cather, this one was bound to be as sad as the rest. Therefore, I didn't enjoy this one at the time I read it.
Paul's Case: Absolutely dark and dreary. Paul, why?!
October 30, 2024
Contents: "The Enchanted Bluff," "Tom Outland's Story," "Neighbour Rosicky," "The Best Years," "Paul's Case."
This is a worthwhile little volume that collects several of my favorite short works by Cather. I'm somewhat disappointed that prime space was given to "Tom Outland's Story" -- aka just the weird middle section of the novel "The Professor's House." But "The Enchanted Bluff" is a lovely elegiac piece about Nebraska youths pledging to visit the titular location, recognizable as New Mexico's El Morro National Monument. "Paul's Case" is perhaps her best executed and most famous tale (of many) touching the classical music world and its fevered longings. The novella "Neighbour Rosicky"--something to bring out at Christmastime--is about a tender farm family of Czech immigrants, all pulling together when their patriarch is told to curtail strenuous work for the sake of his heart. "The Best Years" is Cather's last completed story (1947) and is one of my favorites for pathos. It changes POV in a pattern that will be familiar to Cather readers--from a third-party narrator to a member or members of the central family--and it revisits the recurring theme (compare the novella "Old Mrs. Harris") that grasping a chance at "betterment" may well actually cause vexing reversals or at least nostalgia for simpler times and people left behind.
This is a worthwhile little volume that collects several of my favorite short works by Cather. I'm somewhat disappointed that prime space was given to "Tom Outland's Story" -- aka just the weird middle section of the novel "The Professor's House." But "The Enchanted Bluff" is a lovely elegiac piece about Nebraska youths pledging to visit the titular location, recognizable as New Mexico's El Morro National Monument. "Paul's Case" is perhaps her best executed and most famous tale (of many) touching the classical music world and its fevered longings. The novella "Neighbour Rosicky"--something to bring out at Christmastime--is about a tender farm family of Czech immigrants, all pulling together when their patriarch is told to curtail strenuous work for the sake of his heart. "The Best Years" is Cather's last completed story (1947) and is one of my favorites for pathos. It changes POV in a pattern that will be familiar to Cather readers--from a third-party narrator to a member or members of the central family--and it revisits the recurring theme (compare the novella "Old Mrs. Harris") that grasping a chance at "betterment" may well actually cause vexing reversals or at least nostalgia for simpler times and people left behind.
June 29, 2023
I liked most of the stories-- even got something new out of Tom Outland's story though i'd read it before. The general theme is about how we mythologize the past, and how love/human connection gets us through strife. My favorite stories were easily 'Neighbor Rosicky' and 'The Best Years'.
CW: Suicide for the last story 'Pauls Case'
CW: Suicide for the last story 'Pauls Case'
May 28, 2024
Willa Cather's writing is just my favorite! While I didn't love all five stories in this collection, two of them are some of my favorite things she's ever written. There was only one I didn't enjoy as much and I found out that it was an excerpt of a longer book, so maybe that's why.
June 21, 2018
Interesting collection. Willa Cather had a dark storytelling style, rich with characterization.
March 20, 2020
Cather's descriptions of place are the best, as well as her character development. Even in a short story, her characters shine.
April 21, 2020
I love everything she writes.
November 11, 2024
willa cather never fails to write great characters. this short story collection felt very on par with her usual themes and style, so i’m happy i read it.
January 6, 2011
This was my first Willa Cather book. I can see why hers are often selectioned for high school student required reading. Her writing is not complicated and easy to understand. Her descriptions of the land are exquisite. I read the Five Stories because of the additional unfinished story about Avignon, France. Much to my chagrin, the story was actually about how Willa loved Avignon, wanted to write a story about it but since it was unfinished at the time of her death, she requested it be destroyed. So no Avignon story. The other five stories were varied. One was about kids at a swimming hole, another about a family of farmers in Nebraska, another about cowboys on a New Mexico mesa, another was about a teacher in a small town and one was about a boy in the city. Oddly, with the exception of the swimming hole, one of the lead characters dies in every story. That's not to say that all of the stories are depressing or about death. Just the opposite actually. Many of the lead characters, at some point, get to do what they always wanted to do. Because I enjoy her story telling and her writing style, I think I may pick up another one of her books in the future.
December 25, 2012
The stories are simple in a very pleasant and comfortable way. The writing is direct and comfortable, and the characters feel very familiar - the straightforwardness is a nice balance to the witty cleverness of many modern novels.
January 13, 2009
My favorite was The Enchanted Bluff
January 31, 2009
Wonderfully written in a descriptive style that fits the area she writes about. Neighbour Rosicky is my favorite of these short stories.
November 26, 2013
Great stories of life in Nebraska in the early 1900's.
November 7, 2018
First four stories I thought were excellent. The last story, Paul's Case, was a little dark. Any story by Willa Cather is a pleasure to read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews