Willa Cather’s America: Life, Letters, and Literature

In-person at Berkshire Community College

This single-session course offers a compelling blend of literary lecture and dramatic readings in celebration of the sesquicentennial of Willa Cather (1873–1947), one of the most distinctive and enduring voices in twentieth-century American literature. Participants will explore Cather’s life, themes, and artistry while hearing her words brought vividly to life.

A peer of Wharton, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, and Hemingway, Cather charted her own path through determination and struggle. 

Her groundbreaking novels — including O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, One of Ours, The Professor’s House, and Death Comes for the Archbishop — helped shape the American canon. This program explores Cather’s turbulent life, her uniquely American voice, and her continued relevance today — interwoven with dramatic readings from her fiction and letters performed by local actors.

Peter Cipkowski is a literary historian with interdisciplinary research interests in early 20th century American literature, civic engagement, and global education. He also serves as the incoming president of the National Willa Cather Center Board of Governors. Peter received his doctorate from the University of Southern California and teaches at UCLA. Peter divides his time between Hillsdale and Los Angeles.

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Ticket information:

Admission is $10 for OLLI at BCC members and $15 for the general public.

Admission is free for students, staff and faculty from Berkshire Community College, MCLA, and Williams; youth 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards.