Willa Cather was an American author who wrote novels, short stories, and essays about the American Midwest. She was born in Virginia in 1873 and moved to Nebraska at the age of nine. Cather's writing was heavily influenced by her childhood experiences in the Midwest, and she often wrote about the struggles of immigrants and pioneers in the region. Her most famous works include My Antonia, O Pioneers!, and Death Comes for the Archbishop. Cather was a pioneer in her own right, becoming one of the first female authors to gain widespread recognition for her work. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours in 1923, and was the first woman to receive the Howells Medal for Fiction in 1926. Cather's writing is known for its vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of the Midwest, as well as its exploration of the human experience. Her works remain popular today, and she is remembered as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.