Willa Cather, Wales, Wymore, and the World

As one of the most significant American authors of the twentieth century, Willa Cather’s work was shaped by her Nebraska upbringing. Dr. Shively will discuss many aspects of her life and work, including her Welsh ancestry and its potential influence, as well as her travels across Nebraska and through Wymore—which she alluded to in her novel My Ántonia.

 

Now retired, Steve Shively taught English at Northwest Missouri State University and Utah State University. He served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Willa Cather Foundation for 22 years, has edited the Willa Cather Review, and has published several essays on Cather's life and literature.