O Pioneers, by Willa Cather

This classic American novel is an ode to Scandinavian and other western European settlers, who first wrestled then bonded with the rich Nebraska land they occupied at the turn of the 20th century. It centres around Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish immigrant who leads her brothers and her community through hard times to prosperity after their pioneering father dies. It’s a really interesting snapshot of the times and how particularly difficult it was for women to lead independent lives and make their own choices. First published in 1913, a publisher’s note says it reflects the attitudes of its time. This presumably refers to a total lack of reference to the displaced indigenous occupants of the land and the sympathy for the harsh sentence of 10 years imposed on a man who shot dead his wife and her lover. But in present day America, how much has really changed?