Pulitzer Prize Fiction Winner

One of Ours

by Willa Cather

Summary

Claude Wheeler is a young man from the Midwest who feels stifled by his life on the farm and an unhappy marriage. He eventually finds a sense of purpose and escape when he enlists to fight in World War I.

Historical Context & Significance

Cather spent years researching the war through the letters of her cousin who died in France; the book was a massive bestseller despite some critics hating its romanticized view of combat.