My Ántonia, first published in 1918, tells the story of Ántonia Shimerda, a young immigrant girl from Bohemia, and her life on the American frontier in Nebraska. The story is narrated by Jim Burden, who reflects on their childhood and their evolving relationship as they grow up. The novel explores themes of pioneer life, the American dream, and the immigrant experience, all set against the backdrop of the vast and often harsh Midwestern landscape.
"No romantic novel ever written in America, by man or woman, is one half so beautiful as My Antonia." --H.L. Mencken