my antonia is a novel published in 1918 by american writer willa cather, considered one of her best works. it is the final book of her "prairie trilogy" of novels, preceded by o pioneers! and the song of the lark. the novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from virginia, jim burden, and the elder daughter in a family of bohemian immigrants, antonia shimerda, who are each brought as children to be pioneers in nebraska towards the end of the 19th century. both the pioneers who first break the prairie sod for farming, as well as of the harsh but fertile land itself, feature in this american novel. the first year in the very new place leaves strong impressions in both children, affecting them lifelong. this novel is considered cather's first masterpiece. cather was praised for bringing the american west to life and making it personally interesting. introduction last summer i happened to be crossing the plains of iowa in a season of intense heat, and it was my good fortune to have for a traveling companion james quayle burden—jim burden, as we still call him in the west.