I just finished reading Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser.
It’s one of The New York Times 2017’s best books for good reason.
Thoroughly researched, endlessly endnoted, Prairie Fires
puts Laura and her stories into historical context.
I love books that provide a broader understanding of stories I’ve loved.
Even if I end up disappointed in my heroines.
As an adult, I want to know truth.
Reading Little House books through the years
I’ve been a fan of the Little House books since second grade.
Exposed to the Garth Williams illustrated set at my elementary school library, I devoured the books one after another.
I read them with a seven year-old’s understanding–and they sent me on a life-long love affair with American history and historical fiction.
They brought me comfort–in both Laura’s fictional world and my home life.
I probably reread the series every year until I graduated from high school.
Indeed, I finished rereading These Happy Golden Years just before I said my own marriage vows.
I finally bought a boxed set after reading them aloud to my children the first time when my older boys were two and four years-old.
I’ve since read the entire series out loud five times–once for each new child and a bonus round for everyone.
They mean a lot to me.
A Little House industry
After I became an adult, an entire industry flourished about the books.
Charles and Caroline Ingalls (Wikipedia)
While reading them to my final child, we found websites which answered a lot of questions.
What did all those songs Pa played sound like?
What type of things did Laura do and what did the food taste like?
Interesting, but we didn’t spend much time there–we just loved the books.
We enjoyed the pre-Little House books about Caroline Ingall’s childhood and that of her mother, grandmother, and even her great-grandmother in Scotland.
We never watched the television series.
Nonfiction books and why Prairie Fires is the last one I’ll read
I’ve read many of the nonfiction books written about Laura and Rose Wilder Lane. They were unsettling.
But so was The First Three Years, a book put together by Rose after her mother’s death recounting what happened after the happy marriage.
It was a depressing story and so sad that Almanzo couldn’t remain the confident hero of the earlier books.
It served as a warning that Laura and Almanzo’s story didn’t end as happily ever after as a childhood reader wanted.
Prairie Fires fills in what really happened and why.
It’s invaluable for that reason and while I finished it saddened by what I learned, I also can understand what happened better.
The truth is important.
Laura and Almanzo worked hard, like so many farmers during that time.
They suffered many setbacks, as did Charles and Caroline Ingalls during their lifetimes.
In writing about her childhood, Laura told the stories from her point of view. Based on her life experiences, but not “absolute truth,” as Rose insisted.
The Little House books overlook the harshness and the unfairness, while not shirking from describing what happened to the Ingalls family, as appropriate for a child.
Grasshoppers did eat all the crops on their farm and that of millions of others.
Life was hard.
The stories invite us to pursue the truth of American history, and are an excellent place for children to begin.
(“What did Laura and Mary get for Christmas?” I asked my children more than once to dampen unrealistic expectations.)
Just don’t forget to learn the Native American side of the story.
Charles Ingalls isn’t such a hero when you read about the Homestead Act of 1862, as Fraser presents it in Prairie Dreams.
But we need to know.
Rose Wilder Lane
Perhaps Prairie Dreams’ most valuable telling is that of Rose Wilder Lane’s life.
Rose Wilder Lane (Wikipedia)
I never much cared for her and I like her less now.
As an adult, I can better understand what drove Rose to behave the way she did, sort-of.
As a mother, I can’t quite get my brain wrapped around Laura and Almanzo’s daughter growing up to become a morals-challenged “journalist.”
Fraser provides some insight into the why, but it still left me impatient and so very sad about Rose.
I suspect Laura felt the same way.
But at least Rose adored her father, and for Almanzo’s sake, I’m glad.
It was astonishing, however, to realize how many famous people Rose knew well. I read the book with Google open to explore those personages!
Final thoughts on Prairie Fires
This book is well written. It’s long but so interesting and well put together.
Fraser has done an excellent and fair job of presenting the truth.
I appreciated her work very much and enjoyed her splendid writing.
If you’re a Laura Ingalls Wilder family fan, you’ll find this book very interesting.
Just don’t pop the children’s bubble of love too soon.
Tweetables
Prairie Fires, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Me. Click to Tweet
The last nonfiction about Laura Ingalls Wilder you’ll need to read. Click to Tweet
A heroine can be disappointing; but truth is important. Click to Tweet
Rose was an interesting lady, and led an interesting life, but after reading a biography of her, I didn’t care much for her, either. And as portrayed in that biography (Ghost in the Little House), her mother Laura came across as petty and selfish, which really disappointed me. But I also realize that maybe she wasn’t quite as bad as portrayed, as Rose’s own attitude could have colored how she interpreted her mother’s actions and reactions.
Very true.
We have an older book about the Ingalls that tells several of the sad events. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t read it. None-the-less, the Little House stories are good, clean literature for children in an age where everything is getting PC, and leaving God and morality out of the picture.
Oh, and there is a typo in your “Final Thoughts” paragraph.
I give up, Peter. What is it? 🙂