My Antonia is a classic story originally published in 1918 by Willa Cather. Cather was a famous author in the early to mid-1900s, placing her work in an era of formal, illustrative, and sophisticated writing style. She has written numerous books about life on the Great Plains, where she was born and raised. She received numerous awards for her artistic novels throughout her life. She died in 1947, and the public continues to praise her work almost a century after its publication date. Her free-spirited writing has made her an icon ever since her books hit the shelves.CharactersAll of the main characters in My Antonia are thoughtful and intelligent people, but not necessarily in terms of education or knowledge. Jim Burden, the narrator of the story, is a sincere and nostalgic personality. Basically, he's what you could call a "dreamer." He lost both his parents in an epidemic before the story begins, giving him an introverted style of interacting with outsiders. Jim's development as a character throughout the story is linked to his friendship with the remarkable character Antonia. By knowing her, he becomes less shy and more at ease with others. Antonia is a strong, independent and free spirit, who is sure to leave an impression on anyone who hears about her or meets her. Although Jim is the narrator of the story, Antonia is perhaps even a more important character than him. She is particularly vivacious, acting with a passion that Jim has never seen before. Jim says: “I remembered what the conductor said about his eyes. They were big, warm and full of light, like the sun shining on the brown pools of the forest. p. 17 Antonia's family encountered many difficulties. They immigrated from Bohemia to America, uprooting middle of paper......the story we follow is an account of one of the main characters. It was an interesting way to write the book; this created a basis for the rest of the book that the reader could always be sure of and added well to the effect of the story. My Antonia was a beautiful story to read. The writing style was peaceful and flowing. To me it conjured up the image of tall green grass rolling in waves across the great plains of Nebraska. Antonia's determination to maintain her independence, her free spirit, her outlook on life and her cheerful, lively attitude were refreshing and inspiring. The narrator's reverie and thoughtful attitude created a feeling of peace. This is a book to read when you want to feel happy and have a new and positive attitude towards life. I enjoyed every word of this incredible story and wish it didn't end so quickly.