O Pioneers!

By: Willa Cather

Narrated by: Kathryn Yarman

O Pioneers! is a story of the immigrants who came to America to build new lives for themselves. Struggling against poverty, ignorance, drought, and storm, they came to love and understand the land, until it rewarded them with a richness exceeding all imaginings.

The Bergsons are a family of strong-willed Swedish immigrants who have come to make a living on the great prairie. When the father, John, dies, worn out by disease and debt, his eldest daughter, Alexandra, becomes the head of the family. This is the story of her love affair with the land—an American Midwest that is vast and golden.

Public Domain (P)1991 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A direct human tale of love and struggle and attainment, a tale that is American in the best sense of the word.” ( New York Times)

“Yarman’s reading is one of the best I have heard…Her tempo and modulation are especially noteworthy, adding tremendous emotional impact to the interactions and experiences of the characters.” ( Kliatt)

Bad recording, good book

This a great story but a very bad recording. Pick a different version. There are many to choose from.