47 pages 1 hour read

Willa Cather

The Professor's House

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1925

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Professor’s House by Willa Cather depicts the inner struggles of Godfrey St. Peter, a history professor grappling with his identity in middle age. He remains attached to his old house, where memories of his late student Tom Outland and their shared interest in the American Southwest haunt him. St. Peter navigates family tensions and his sense of missed opportunities while working on editing Tom's diaries. The book includes depictions of suicidal ideation and the misappropriation of Indigenous culture.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Willa Cather's The Professor's House blends introspective and evocative prose, exploring themes of change and disillusionment. Critics praise its rich character development and atmospheric depiction of midlife crisis. However, some find its pacing slow and the narrative structure disjointed. Overall, it's a thought-provoking, though occasionally divisive, literary work.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Professor's House?

Readers who appreciate introspective narratives and character-driven stories will enjoy Willa Cather's The Professor's House. Fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence will find Cather's exploration of personal growth and cultural changes deeply resonant.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Classic Fiction

American Literature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia