A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays

"A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays" by Willa Cather is a gathering of tales, examinations, and thoughts created around the end of the 1800s. The collection likely looks at ideas such as characters dealing with important decisions and problems in society, pulling from the author's life and the human condition. Cather's writing focuses on the fullness of country life and the problems people face and will appeal to readers who like stories about characters and thoughtful life observations. The first story introduces Peter Sadelack, an old musician who remembers when he was a great second violinist in Prague, comparing that to his life now on a Nebraska farm where he has trouble getting what he needs and argues with his son, Antone, who wants to get rid of Peter's beloved violin. The story shows how Peter misses his past and hates his present, leading to a sad act of desperation. Cather begins the collection by mixing together ideas of loss, memory, and difficult family relationships, drawing readers into her emotional and detailed way of telling stories.