Laura Ingalls Wilder

Children's Literature - Monserrat Urena

This is the first book of the "South Dakota Biography Series" and tells the life story of the beloved writer of such books as Little House on the Prairie and Little House in the Big Woods. The book focuses on clarifying the real and fictional elements in Wilder's life and their place in her books. The most interesting element in the book however is the complicated and often difficult relationship between Wilder and her daughter Rose Wilder Lane. A writer in her own right, Rose Wilder Lane was a strong force in her mother's creative life. The unique working relationship between mother and daughter is shown to have been filled with highs and lows. The end results however are unmistakable. As far as biographies go, this is a middle tier one. It makes for an average reading experience but there are better biographies out there. This is particularly true if you are looking for source material for research and the like. This biography however does work well for those who are just beginning to look into Wilder's life. I, however, left the book with a great interest in learning more about her daughter Rose Wilder Lane. She stands out in the work as a modern woman achieving and struggling with an acute sensibility that seems to break free of the constraints of her time. Reviewer: Monserrat Urena