50 pages • 1-hour read
One Of Ours
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
343
Novel • Fiction
•
Classic Fiction•
American LiteratureNebraska • 1910s
•
World History1922
Boomer Books
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
One of Ours by Willa Cather follows the personal evolution of Claude Wheeler, a young man who transitions from a restless life on his family's Nebraska farm to finding a sense of purpose as a soldier in France during World War I. Through Claude’s journey, the novel explores themes of youthful restlessness, the search for meaning, and the sense of purposefulness found in wartime. Sensitive topics include violence and death.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Emotional
Challenging
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
10,492 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
One of Ours by Willa Cather is widely praised for its rich prose and vivid depiction of a young man's quest for meaning against the backdrop of World War I. Critics appreciate its intricate character development and evocative settings. However, some feel the novel's pacing is uneven, with a storyline that only truly grips in its latter half. Overall, it offers a compelling narrative with a mix of contemplation and action.
Who Should Read One Of Ours?
Readers who enjoy One of Ours by Willa Cather are drawn to historical fiction set during World War I, with profound character studies and explorations of the American pioneering spirit. Fans of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms or Edith Wharton’s A Son at the Front will appreciate Cather’s nuanced narrative and rich depictions of early 20th-century life.
10,492 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Claude’s elder brother, a successful and reserved businessman known for his financial prudence and joyless demeanor.
Claude’s younger brother, characterized by his laziness and fascination with material possessions and luxury.
Claude's intelligent and self-sacrificing mother, who shares his love for books and plays a pivotal role in his development.
Claude’s father, a financially successful farmer from Maine who values material wealth over intellectual pursuits.
The Wheeler family's devoted cook, who is illiterate but cherishes Claude’s interest in reading and learning.
Claude's intellectual friend from Bohemia who encourages Claude to explore his American identity.
A skilled farmer and neighbor who is Claude's friend and enlists in the army alongside him.
A traveling preacher who influences Claude's education by recommending religious schooling.
A university student of German heritage who introduces Claude to European culture and intellectual gatherings.
Julius’s cultured mother, known for hosting salons that pique Claude’s curiosity about Europe.
A thoughtful and musically talented teacher who secretly admires Claude and inspires him to pursue his ambitions.
A wealthy and religious woman who marries Claude, though her austere lifestyle leads to marital tension.
A hardworking German immigrant farmer who faces local suspicion during World War I.
A prosperous German farmer outspoken about his anti-American sentiments during the war.
A soft-spoken officer from Virginia who succumbs to influenza while en route to France.
An ignorant yet authoritative officer whose family connections helped him secure his position.
The dedicated doctor aboard the Anchises who enlists Claude as a medical assistant during an influenza outbreak.
An adventurous fighter pilot serving in the British air brigade, whose lively stories intrigue Claude.
An officer Claude knew from his university days, who proves to be an ineffective leader.
A talented violinist turned soldier from New York, whose friendship with Claude grows amid shared war experiences.
A compassionate elderly French couple who provide hospitality to Claude and Gerhardt during the war.
A French woman who expresses gratitude to American soldiers for their role in liberating her village.
343
Novel • Fiction
•
Classic Fiction•
American LiteratureNebraska • 1910s
•
World History1922
Boomer Books
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 10,200+ additional titles.