I just finished reading The Professor’s House by Willa Cather. I love reading Willa Cather as her composed, no-frills style of writing is pleasing to me.
The main character in The Professor’s House is Professor Godfrey St. Peter, described on the cover as “a man in his fifties who has devoted his life to his work, his wife, his garden, and his daughters and achieved success with all of them.” This could aptly describe many of us in our fifties and sixties.
And the inner emotional journey he traversed could fit as well.
Maybe that’s why I loved the book. I journeyed right along with Professor St. Peter.
Underlined:
“…the habit of living with ideas grows on one I suppose,”
“I think your ideas were best when you were your most human self.”
“At least, he felt the ground under his feet. He thought he knew where he was, and that he could face with fortitude the Berengaria and the future.”
I may have to read this again.
I may have to read this again.
~~~
The only Willa Cather that I've read is My Antonia. It was required reading in high school. Ashamed to say, I really don't know much about her works. Thank you for reintroducing me to her Sandy! It sounds like the type of story that I'd enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLove that - he felt the ground under his feet!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I'm late to the Classics having been more interested in the sciences and math when in HS and college. I am just now discovering some great Authors. Much better reading than most of the current stuff out there.
ReplyDeleteSandy, I think it's better to read some of the classics later in life, after you've had some experience at it. When I was in junior high I tried to read all the classics. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough knowledge about life to understand the true meaning of many. When you're thirteen or fourteen what do you know about yearning and disappointment? Not to mention that you're just to naive to understand what Hemingway is getting at!
ReplyDeleteOh, Sandy! I love Willa Cather! She is one of my most favorite authors! Please try "Song of the Lark," "O Pioneers" (and Whitman's poem of the same name), and "Lost Lady". They are alll wonderful wonderful wonderful! Sadly, I am ashamed to admit, I haven't read "The Professor's House." Guess what I am picking up this week?? LOl
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see a post from you! I miss you!
You are so right Jane, this story would have meant nothing to me had I read it forty years ago.
ReplyDeleteMatty, I'll have to check our Library for more Cather books. This was just my third - after O Pioneers and My Antonia.
I found that book at a book sale staff at the bank were hosting one year as a fundraiser.
ReplyDeleteI forgot I had it... till you mention it. So I'll have to go find it now that you share some of the fine tidbits from its pages!