PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College (BCC) will present "Willa Cather's America: Life, Letters, and Literature," single-session course, on Friday, Nov. 14 from 9:30-11 a.m. 

 

The session, instructed by Peter Cipkowski, will be held in person at BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. 

 

Admission is $10 for OLLI at BCC members and $15 for the general public. Admission is free for students, staff and faculty of BCC, MCLA and Williams College; youth ages 17 and under; and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP or ConnectorCare cards. To register for the event, visit https://berkshireolli.org/event-6354850. 

 

According to a press release:

 

The course offers a compelling blend of literary lecture and dramatic readings in celebration of the sesquicentennial of Willa Cather (1873–1947), one of the most distinctive and enduring voices in 20th century American literature. Participants will explore Cather's life, themes and artistry while hearing her words vividly brought to life. 

 

A peer of Wharton, Fitzgerald, Faulkner and Hemingway, Cather charted her own path through determination and struggle. Her groundbreaking novels — including "O Pioneers!," "My Ántonia," "One of Ours," "The Professor's House" and "Death Comes for the Archbishop" — helped shape the American canon. This program explores Cather's turbulent life, her uniquely American voice and her continued relevance today, interwoven with dramatic readings of her works performed by local actors. 

 

Peter Cipkowski is a literary historian with interdisciplinary research interests in early 20th century American literature, civic engagement and global education. He also serves as the incoming president of the National Willa Cather Center Board of Governors. Cipkowski received his doctorate from the University of Southern California and teaches at UCLA. He divides his time between Hillsdale, NY and Los Angeles.