This narrative does not follow a traditional arc with a defined destination. Instead, it elegantly captures a mood, paints a subtle backdrop, and offers a glimpse into the history of the American West's settlement, focusing on the archetypical settlers who made it their home. Originally appearing in Prairie Schooner and later in Harpers, "Nebraska" is fundamentally a story about place, devoid of a fixed name for its setting yet replete with evocative place names like Americus, Covenant, and Sweetwater.

The Unnamed Town

In crafting "Nebraska," Ron Hansen conjures an archetype of a quintessential small Nebraskan town, too insignificant to appear on most maps. Although he introduces various characters, they serve as mere sketches rather than fully developed personas. They are briefly mentioned, their names and a few facts shared before the narrative moves on. In many ways, the town itself emerges as the most significant character, shaping the minds and lives of its inhabitants.

A Landscape of Solitude

The town and its surroundings possess a unique vitality, existing as independent entities sprawled across a level terrain. The Union Pacific trains that rumble through several times daily are the sole source of external energy, occasionally stopping long enough to deliver a boxcar of supplies. These tracks are the lifelines of the dormant town, a constant reminder of movement and life beyond its borders.

A Sparse Existence

Events in the story are few, just like the scant population that inhabits the town. Reflecting the town's limited population, the story contains only a handful of characters. Hansen recounts how some residents convert their porches into makeshift sleeping quarters for young men poised to join the navy, where they will serve on ships with populations rivaling that of their hometown.

Legacy of the Settlers

The pioneers who settled in Nebraska were primarily of German, Swedish, Danish, and Polish descent. They migrated westward from the eastern seaports through which they entered America, finally stopping in Nebraska, where they settled out of exhaustion and a sense of resignation.

Sod Houses and Survival

These settlers constructed their first homes as sod houses, rudimentary shelters partly dug into the ground and supported by wooden beams to uphold the sod block walls and roofs. These dwellings would be buried under snow during harsh prairie winters, only to emerge fragile and crumbling with the spring thaw.

A Nostalgic Tapestry

"Nebraska" weaves nostalgia through its brief yet vivid seasonal portraits: the hay trucks dusting the roads with hay in July, the full silos and barren trees of October, the snow-laden highways and frozen rivers of January, and the remnants of snow clinging to tree trunks in April.

Remnants of the Past

Victor Johnson rummages through an old garage, stirring nostalgic emotions. He uncovers a windup Victrola, stacks of 1920s records, abandoned farm tools, high-topped shoes, a wooden film projector painted silver, and large reels of old film. Among these treasures are photographs, including one of a daring aviator walking on biplane wings.

Community and Identity

Hansen captures the essence of small-town prairie life and its impact on its residents. In such close-knit environments, everyone is privy to everyone else's affairs. As Hansen suggests, every individual is indispensable, possessing a strong identity often absent in the anonymity of city life. He refrains from passing judgment on whether this closeness is beneficial or detrimental. It superficially appears wholesome, though hidden currents may be harmful. Hansen offers a straightforward narrative, inviting readers to draw their own conclusions about the nature of such communities.