Final answer:
Willa Cather's critically acclaimed prairie novels include O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark, which are part of her 'Prairie Trilogy.' These works reflect her nostalgic view of the lives of settlers and the harsh beauty of the American frontier.
Step-by-step explanation:
Willa Cather, an acclaimed American author, is best known for her novels that capture the spirit of the American frontier and are set on the prairie. Three of her most critically acclaimed novels that reflect her love for the prairie include O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. These novels are often referred to collectively as the 'Prairie Trilogy.' They are seen as significant works that represent Cather's nostalgic reflection on the lives of the early settlers in the American West and her own Nebraska upbringing.
O Pioneers! (1913) is the first of Cather's prairie novels. It tells the story of the Swedish immigrant Bergson family and centers around the daughter, Alexandra, who inherits the family farm. My Ántonia (1918) is perhaps Cather's most well-known work, focusing on the life of Ántonia Shimerda, a Bohemian immigrant girl, as narrated by her friend Jim Burden. Finally, The Song of the Lark (1915) diverges slightly in focus by tracking the journey of Thea Kronborg, a talented singer from a small Colorado town who aspires to become an opera diva. Though less directly focused on prairie life, it still offers a deep connection to Cather's prairie setting in its early chapters.