The Little House books, which chronicled the pioneer adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, are among the most beloved books in the American literary canon. Lesser known is the secret, concealed for decades, of how they came to be. Now, bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert reimagines the fascinating story of Laura’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, an intrepid world traveler and writer who returned to … to her parents’ Ozark farm, Rocky Ridge, in 1928. There she began a collaboration with her mother on the pioneer stories that would captivate generations of readers around the world.
Despite the books’ success, Rose’s involvement would remain a secret long after both women died. A vivid account of a great literary deception, A Wilder Rose is a spellbinding tale of a complicated mother-daughter relationship set against the brutal backdrop of the Great Depression.
Revised edition: This edition of A Wilder Rose: A Novel includes editorial revisions.
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An already prolific author in the mystery and historical fiction mystery genres turned her attention to the life of Rose Wilder Lane and her relationship with her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Susan Wittig Albert is scrupulous about her research and can impart information about the two women with prose that makes you feel that you’re right there …
Good book!! An eye opener!
Wonderful story. Although author stated story could not be proven, I honestly believe it to be true that the Mother, Laura Ingles, took credit for for writing the Little House On The Prarie books, when her daughter, Rose, actually wrote the books. I Learned a lot about political history that took place during that time. Great book. I would highly …
I really wanted to like this book as I loved the “Little House” books growing up. I had a hard time engaging with the story from the beginning as the movement of the story felt contrived. Rose Wilder tells her story because a friend keeps asking about it. These breaks in the narrative to the “present” day to ask more questions did not add …
Many of us have read all of the Little House books and loved them. This was a glimpse of the making of the books and the relationship of mother and daughter .
Very interesting and a bit sad to learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter Rose. Something I never knew.
If you love the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this book will surprise you. There’s a fascinating story behind these much loved tales.
Interesting, but too repetitive.
A very interesting book which revealed the true author of the Little House series.
This is excellent reading for fans of the Ingalls and Wilder families.
Interesting take on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writing. I didn’t check if the story was
based in truth.
Susan Wittig Albert’s A Wilder Rose is an interesting history of the often tumultuous relationship between Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter Rose Wilder Lane. Part fact and part fiction, Albert’s story spans from the mid-1920s to Wilder’s death in 1968 and surmises that Lane was basically the ghostwriter for her mother’s Little House stories. …
I am assuming that this is a mostly true story. With that in mind, it seems a shame that Laura Ingalls Wilder got all the credit for the Little House stories.
Interesting background to my most-loved children’s book series!
I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and watching Little House on the Prairie. That being said, I expected to love this book, however I found it somewhat depressing and boring.
I love anything by Susan Albert Wittig and this did not disappoint. The story is so interesting about a wonderful time in our history. Rose’s story and her life are an inspiration.
The writing was wooden.
I looked up to Laura Wilder, and was deflated to learn she had a ghost writer. Kind of like learning about the Easter Bunny and Santa.
It is not like other books by this author at all. It’s a fictional account of real events. I had to make myself finish it. I felt the story went too long and could have been told in a magazine article. Since the author chose to write the story as a book, she could have (fictionally) expanded on some parts. Characters were not properly introduced. …
As a Little House on the Prairie fan when I was young, I enjoyed reading about the real life of Laura Ingles Wilder and her daughter. While it doesn’t diminish the Little House Series for me, it’s sad that her daughter did not get more an credit for getting the books published. I enjoyed reading about that part of our history and how life was …