By Diana Johnson
Meet Nebraska author Willa Cather through her letters, first published in February this year. Stromsburg Public Library will host Andrew Jewell, co-editor of the collection of letters titled, The Selected Letters of Willa Cather, Tuesday, October 8, at 12 noon.
As the editor of the Willa Cather archive at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Jewell is well qualified to introduce the character and personality of the author. The program is funded by Humanities Nebraska. The library encourages patrons to bring a lunch. The library will provide coffee and cookies.
Because Cather wanted to be judged on her work alone, she left clear instructions in her will that her letters were not to be published. With her literary reputation now secure and the death of her nephew, the will’s executor, the will has expired and the letters have become available for publication. The present collection represents only 20 per cent of her total letters. They cover her teenage years in Red Cloud through her distinguished career as a novelist.
Remember that free Wi-Fi at the library is now password protected and a new password was issued Oct. 1. Stop in during open library hours to get the password after signing a form outlining Wi-Fi use policies.