Willa Cather on Writing: Critical Studies on Writing As an Art

Rating:
Summary: Pieces lack the "author"ity of Cather
Review: WILLA CATHER ON WRITING, Critical Studies as an Art, published by the University of Nebraska Press, is a slim(20 page introduction by Stephen Tennant, 126 pages by Cather) and valuable, though selective, work. Tennant attempts, with effort, to pull the contents together by his introduction. The contents are extensive pieces Cather wrote on writers and pieces of writing familiar to readers. The attempt is forced and the contents are wedged into the title and purpose of the publishers or Tennant. The Contents: Four letters: On DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP, On SHADOWS ON THE ROCK, Escapism, On THE PROFESSOR'S HOUSE The Novel Demeuble Four Prefaces: THE BEST STORIES OF SARAH ORNE JEWETT Gertrude Hall's THE WAGNERIAN ROMANCES Stephen Crane's WOUNDS IN THE RAIN AND OTHER IMPRESSIONS OF WAR Defoe's THE UNFORTUNATE MISTRESS My First Novels [There Were Two] On the Art of Fiction Katherine Mansfield Light on Adobe Walls [An unpubished fragment] The pieces are critical and hold advice for would-be-writers. Selections read like pieces of conversation with Cather on aspects of writing. Given Cather's talent and output, she deserves a more thorough collection with a more accurate title.