was jim burden based on somebody she knew? est: there have been theories about his name and where it might have comefrom some of the experiences in the book are her own experiences she gives to jim. other she is didn't really directly have. for example, the pro to type for antonia, her father had killed himself before cather and her family moved to the area, that was a story she heard not something she experienced. other people, so the miner family that become the harvetion rlings, in particular, mrs. harling, told two of her daughters that was as close as she came to a portrait of a straight up person. otherwise she was mixing together bits and pieces of various people and adapting them to her own purposes. host: if a student came to you and said, i want to read "my antonia," what advice would you give? guest: i would sago ahead and read it. it's up to you whether or not you enjoy it and what you make of out. it's a book for me that has changed over the years. i've read it so many times, i find different things in it every tim