Youth and the Bright Medusa

Youth and the Bright Medusa is a collection of short stories by Willa Cather, first published in 1920. The book contains eight stories, each depicting the struggles and triumphs of young artists and intellectuals in early 20th century America. The first story, ''Coming, Aphrodite!'', follows the journey of a young sculptor named Don Hedger as he tries to balance his artistic ambitions with his love for a beautiful model named Eden Bower. In ''The Diamond Mine'', a young writer named Paul Dresser becomes embroiled in a love triangle with two women who both inspire and challenge his creativity. Other stories in the collection include ''A Gold Slipper'', which explores the relationship between a young dancer and her wealthy patron, and ''The Sculptor’s Funeral'', which delves into the tensions between a small town and a famous sculptor’s controversial legacy. Throughout the book, Cather explores themes of artistic ambition, love, and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. The stories are rich with vivid descriptions of the American landscape and the complex characters who inhabit it. Youth and the Bright Medusa is a timeless exploration of the human condition and the power of art to transform lives.1920. In her later years, Cather’s fascination with the American Southwest, early Canada and Catholicism reflects her search for alternatives to the greedy civilization she felt was replacing the spirit of the early pioneers. This short story collection contains: Coming, Aphrodite!; The Diamond Mine; A Gold Slipper; Scandal; Paul’s Case; A Wagner Matinee; The Sculptor’s Funeral; and A Death in the Desert. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.