
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather (1923)
The novel follows Marian Forrester, a woman of high social standing in the small town of Sweet Water, Nebraska. She is married to a wealthy landowner, Frank Forrester, and is the mother of two children. Despite her privileged life, Marian is unhappy and longs for something more. When a young engineer, Neil Herbert, arrives in town, Marian is immediately drawn to him. She begins to spend more and more time with him, and soon their relationship becomes romantic. Frank is suspicious of their relationship, and his suspicions are confirmed when he discovers that Neil and Marian have been having an affair. Frank is devastated by the betrayal and decides to leave Sweet Water. He takes his children with him, leaving Marian alone and heartbroken. As the years pass, Marian's life slowly unravels. She is unable to find happiness and eventually dies alone and forgotten. The novel is a tragic story of love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's choices. It is a powerful exploration of the human condition and the power of love.
By Willa Cather · First published 1923 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 18 chapters · 34,177 words
First lines
-". Come, my coach! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies, good night, good night."
What this Textopian page supports
A Lost Lady is listed on Textopian as a novel by Willa Cather, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Willa Cather
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 34,177 words
- Structure: 18 chapters, 1,042 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Lost Lady by Willa Cather
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Lost Lady?
- How does this novel by Willa Cather fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Realistic Fiction — A Lost Lady is a realistic fiction novel that follows the life of Marian Forrester, a woman living in a small town in Nebraska in the late 19th century. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the changing nature of society.
- Romance — A Lost Lady is a romantic novel that follows the relationship between Marian Forrester and her husband, Captain Daniel Forrester. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the power of relationships.
- Historical Fiction — A Lost Lady is a historical fiction novel set in the late 19th century in a small town in Nebraska. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the changing nature of society in this time period.
- Literary Fiction — A Lost Lady is a literary fiction novel written by Willa Cather. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the power of relationships through the use of vivid imagery and poetic language.
Tags
loss · identity · feminism · American West · nostalgia · rural life · marriage · betrayal · social change · aging · romance · courage
Contents
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 9
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