A myth-busting book of the real Ingalls family that “shines light on the political views . . . below the surface of the Little House series” (History Channel). Generations of children have fallen in love with the pioneer saga of the Ingalls family, of Pa and Ma, Laura and her sisters, and their loyal dog, Jack. Teaching millions of Americans about frontier life, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little … Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books became emblematic of our national identity. Yet few realize that this cherished bestselling series wandered far from the actual experiences of the Ingalls family, and from what Laura herself understood to be central truths about life on the prairie.
In this groundbreaking narrative of literary detection, Christine Woodside reveals the full extent of the collaboration between Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, who shared the political values of Ayn Rand and became a mentor to Libertarian presidential candidate Roger Lea MacBride. Drawing on original manuscripts and letters, Woodside shows how Rose reshaped her mother’s story into a series of heroic tales that rebutted the policies of the New Deal. Their secret collaboration would lead in time to their estrangement.
Libertarians on the Prairie is a “myth-busting” deconstruction of an American icon as well as a historical profile that “masterfully captures the behind-the-scenes story of two strong-willed women locked in an uneasy, but interdependent, enterprise” (Shoreline Times).
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Boring, boring boring!!
Very similar to The Ghost in the Little House and much cited by this author, except with a political bent. She paints Rose Wilder Lane with a more sardonic eye and discusses Rose’s apparent resentment of her mother as well as the strong likelihood that much of the Little House novels were just that, fiction.
I’ve read just about everything related to LIW. While informative at times, this book was just ok.
Did not enjoy. The book could not hold my interest. Maybe it departed too much from my vision of Laura Ingalls after having spent many, many enjoyable hours as a child reading the Little House series. I guess it broke the illusion and although the book may be informative to others, I just could not forge on.
This is such a interesting read about the whole Ingalls family. Good read.
The author pulls together much of the Laura Ingalls Wilder material that an afficianado has already learned, but it is an interesting take on this beloved author and her daughter.
The book is too drawn out with a lot of repetition
Though I read the introduction and blurb of this book before opening the cover to read it, I was not prepared to read a book about Rose Wilder Lane. This book was more of a biography about Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s daughter and her relationship with her mother.
The book is rather dry and lengthy and if you were expecting to hear a lot about Laura or the Little House family you will be sorely disappointed in this book (as I was). The book delves into all the magazine articles and novels that Rose has written in her lifetime, where she has lived, what houses she bought, etc. This would be great if I had had any interest in Rose but I don’t. Some of Laura and Rose’s relationship was interesting but not at all like you would expect a mother and daughter relationship to be. Caroline and Charles were mentioned a few times and Almanzo maybe a little more but all in all, they were barely a blip on the pages. Charles and Caroline’s other daughters were mentioned peripherally but you can count on one hand the number of times they are mentioned singularly or collectively.
I’ll admit I regret paying even $1.99 for this book as it was a huge disappointment.
Interesting to read their relationship but a bit long and slow at times in its read. I’m a huge LIW fan, so I was hoping for a bit more but maybe my expectations were a bit high.
Awful book. I don’t care how Libertarian Rose Wilder was, and that’s mostly what this book is about.
Fascinating read. As a childhood devoted reader of The Little House on the Prairie books, I have to say this burst my bubble of the idealism of the series. I am still glad to know the true story of Laura and Rose.
Not what I expected from my childhood hero. I learned a lot from this book.
This book is a non fiction account of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder, and the process they went through to write the “Little House” series of books. It was interesting to learn that Rose was actually more involved in the production of each book and was actually a talented writer in her own right. She made sure that, despite her involvement and influence, her mother got the credit for the series. Overall, this was a good read. It did tend to drag in places. There was some redundant parts, but all seemed to help keep it tied together. Well worth the time for “Little House” fans unless you really don’t want the background to influence your love of the stories.
I enjoyed reading about Laura Ingalls Wilder, I think the author put too much emphasis on repeating about Rose Wilder Lane helping her mother with the Little House Books. Their relationship was certainly made out to be very rocky, which is sad, but with all the changes that happened in their lifetime it’s not surprising. Still loved reading about Laura and Almanzo and Rose.
Didn’t finish it…couldn’t get into it.