Obscure Destinies

short stories by Cather

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July 15, 2026

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Obscure Destinies is a 1932 collection of three short stories by Willa Cather. The stories, "Old Mrs. Harris," "The Best Years," and "Two Friends," explore themes of family, aging, and the passing of the pioneer spirit. These narratives reflect Cather's mature reflections on life and her familiar settings, often contrasting the resilience of individuals with the changes brought by time and modernization. The collection offers a poignant look at ordinary lives and the quiet struggles and triumphs within them.1

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Willa Cather
…themes can be found in Obscure Destinies (1932). With success and middle age, however, Cather experienced a strong disillusionment, which was reflected in The Professor’s House (1925) and her essays Not Under Forty (1936).
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…themes can be found in Obscure Destinies (1932). With success and middle age, however, Cather experienced a strong disillusionment, which was reflected in The Professor’s House (1925) and her essays Not Under Forty (1936).
Read More