Tommy, the Unsentimental

Summary

Tommy, the Unsentimental is a short story by Willa Cather. It was first published in Home Monthly in August 1896.[1]

"Tommy, the Unsentimental"
Short story by Willa Cather
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s)Short story
Publication
Published inHome Monthly
Publication typeWomen's magazine
Publication dateAugust 1896

Plot summary edit

Jay works in Thomas Shirley, Sr's bank until his relationship with Tommy gets strained and he is sent to Red Willow, another town some twenty miles north. Tommy goes to college in the East, then comes back. One day, Tommy receives a telegram asking her to come and help him as there is trouble at the bank he is working. She bikes there with Miss Jessica but leaves her on the way as the other woman is tired and they don't have time to wait. When she gets there, she solves the problem and tells him he should marry Miss Jessica, as she feels for him. He protests, saying he feels for her, not Jessica, but she laughs away the suggestion.

Characters edit

  • Tommy, a.k.a. Thomas Shirley. Her real name is Theodosia; she is a girl. She has 'big land interests in Wyoming'.
  • Jay Ellington Harper, a bank cashier.
  • Miss Jessica
  • Joe Elsworth
  • Joe Sawyer
  • Thomas Shirley, Sr

Allusions to actual history edit

References edit

  1. ^ Willa Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 November 1970, page 480
  2. ^ Willa Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 November 1970, page 479

External links edit

  • Full Text at the Willa Cather Archive