Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American author renowned for her vivid portrayals of frontier life and the pioneer experience in the Midwest. Born in Virginia and raised on the Nebraska prairie, Cather's upbringing in a rural, agricultural environment deeply influenced her writing. She attended the University of Nebraska, where she initially studied to be a doctor but soon turned to journalism and, later, to creative writing. Her career spanned journalism, editorial work, and fiction, with her early professional years spent as an editor at McClure's Magazine in New York City. This position allowed her to explore her literary talents and paved the way for her career as a novelist.