Neighbor Rosicky by Willa Cather (1930)

In the twilight of his years an immigrant looks back on life, while keeping an eye on the present.

Story Review: "Neighbor Rosicky," first published in 1930, is taken from the story collection Obscure Destinies (1932) by Willa Cather (1873-1947). Many Americans think there is nothing of interest between Chicago and Denver, and anyone who has driven through Nebraska or Kansas would be inclined to agree. This neglected part of the country is the region Cather chose to write about in novels such as O Pioneers! (1913) and My Ántonia (1918). Despite the poor marketing choice, she wrote powerful and affecting books from this setting. "Neighbor Rosicky" shows us the immigrant experience without exaggeration, and argues that despite harsh conditions quality of life is more important than material success. It is touching and heartwarming, but even in these ironic times there must be a place for the poignant (when this side of cloying). Cather succeeds in keeping the story realistic, showing the importance of family, support, and generosity to immigrant success. My takeaway was one of those archaic instructions for life: "Be a little nicer than you have to be." "Neighbor Rosicky" isn't a triumph of multi-levular significance or sub-textural imagery; it's a slice of life, a peek at the human condition. And that's okay.  [4★]