This book by James Woodress was the first major biography written about Willa Cather and was the standard Cather biography for many years--and frankly, even though many others have been written since, it may still be. All Cather scholars are indebted to Woodress for this comprehensive, meticulously researched biography. Cather was very fortunate in her biographer; Woodress's book did much to further her reputation in the scholarly community. Cather has become somewhat of a cottage industry with the large group of Cather scholars; thanks to them, all of her works are in print and are taught at all the major universities. Woodress's biography had a lot to do with that. ( )