Prairie Fires
The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Prairie Fires
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Narrated by:
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Christina Moore
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Written by:
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Caroline Fraser
About this listen
The first comprehensive historical biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie book series
Millions of fans of Little House on the Prairie believe they know Laura Ingalls - the pioneer girl who survived blizzards and near-starvation on the Great Plains, and the woman who wrote the famous autobiographical books. But the true story of her life has never been fully told. Now, drawing on unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and land and financial records, Caroline Fraser - the editor of the Library of America edition of the Little House series - masterfully fills in the gaps in Wilder's biography, setting the record straight regarding charges of ghostwriting that have swirled around the books and uncovering the grown-up story behind the most influential childhood epic of pioneer life.
Set against nearly a century of epochal change, from the Homestead Act and the Indian Wars to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, Wilder's dramatic life provides a unique perspective on American history and our national mythology of self-reliance. Offering fresh insight and new discoveries about Wilder's life and times, Prairie Fires is the definitive book about Wilder and her world.
Caroline Fraser is the editor of the Library of America edition of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books and the author of Rewilding the World and God's Perfect Child. Her writing has appeared in The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, and the London Review of Books, among other publications. She lives in New Mexico.
©2017 Caroline Fraser (P)2017 Recorded BooksWhat listeners say about Prairie Fires
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bronwyn
- 2023-04-13
Historical context for Little House. Wow!
Everything you didn't know, have wanted to know, and even might not have wanted to know! This work gives incredible historical context to those who love the Little House books. I am so happy I listened to this book and have been inspired to research other historical topics the novel introduced. Topics such as American frontier politics, Rose's life in Albania, and the often hidden side and harsh realities of womens lives and the permanent toll on their emotional and mental wellbeing.
I would like to note that some reviews of the performance below were harsh but somewhat accurate. By the last 3 hours the performer gets into a rutt using the same tone over and over which can seem harsh. It presents as bias but I think it's simply a lack of skill in performing/reading for an audience. I was able to look past it because I was deeply interested in the history but I can see how some might find it trying.
Great book so glad I purchased it!!! If you are a fan and don't need to maintain the illusion that Laura's life was exactly as it was portrayed in the books this is the book for you. It covers the history in all of the Little House books, Pioneer Girl, Little House Ozark series and beyond. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this hidden gem!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sophia V.
- 2024-02-04
Well researched. Well told.
Learning the story behind a story that I thought I knew. It brought history to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tabitha B
- 2022-02-09
I feel so educated!!
I have been reading The Little House books every year since I was 6. It is so good to hear the history behind them and the sometimes bleak reality. Who knew Rose was such a narcissistic pill??? Wow.
This is so worth the long listen. I hung on every word. You need to hear this if you're a true Little House book fan.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2018-06-16
Betwixt and Between
As a fan of the Little House series of books, I was intrigued to find this book, purporting to be a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. And it is, to an extent. Wilder is obviously a heroine for Fraser, however, every person in Laura's life, in Fraser's view, becomes a stone around Laura's neck, dragging her down. Fraser's condemnation of Rose and vilification of Almanzo are hard to listen to, and frankly, downright mean. What I found particularly disturbing was the utter contempt the writer has for Rose Wilder Lane, Laura's only child.
What I enjoyed was the narration and much of the information about Laura and her life and why she became a writer. A natural story teller, sharing her journal entries about her life. How much is truth? How much is spin? Hard to tell, given the writer's virulent attacks on Rose Wilder Lane.
The historical framework of the story is interesting, however, the vitriol of Fraser's narrative is hard to ignore. An historical oddity.
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2 people found this helpful