A Lost Lady
by Willa Cather
Marian Forrester is a symbolic flower of the Old American West. She draws her strength from this solid foundation, bringing pleasure and beauty to her elderly husband, the small town of Sweet Water where they live, the land of the meadows, and Neil Herbert, the young narrator of her story. Everyone is fascinated by her brilliance and grace, and everyone is betrayed. Because Marian desires "life in every way" and while she satisfies herself, she loses everything she loves and everything that loves her. Willa Cather's most perfect novel, this is not only a portrait of a disturbing beauty, but also an unforgettable challenge of a noble era that irrevocably slips into the past.
