She died of a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 73 in New York City. Closely identified with Red Cloud and Lincoln, Cather also had deep connections to Kearney residents. 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. TOPIC: Known to readers for her reimaginings of Red Cloud, Nebraska, in classics like My Ántonia and O Pioneers, Willa Cather is one of Nebraska’s most beloved authors. She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943. 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 travelled widely and often spent summers in New Brunswick, Canada. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, 'One of Ours' (1922), set during World War I. Her novels on frontier life brought her to national recognition. Because of this, she changed her major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English.Īfter 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. 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. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, 'One o Wilella Sibert Cather was born in Back Creek Valley (Gore), Virginia, in December 7, 1873. 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. Because of this, she changed her major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English. Wilella Sibert Cather was born in Back Creek Valley (Gore), Virginia, in December 7, 1873.

My Antonia by Willa Cather