There are few people who do not recognize the name Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of a series of books for children which detail events of her childhood growing up on the prairie in the 1870s and 1880s. The legendary TV show based on the books penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie , ran from 1974 to 1983. Melissa Gilbert starred as the sweet Laura Ingalls.
Michael Landon, who played the part of father Charles Ingalls, was strict about the historical accuracy and highlighting the closeness of the family dynamic. His vision of carrying through the honesty and good moral values of the Ingalls clan was perhaps a large reason for the show’s success.
“The main values of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ are little things that nobody seems to care about anymore, the simple needs of people and how difficult it was in those days out West to supply them.”
It is interesting to note that the Laura Ingalls Wilder autobiography, entitled Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography , was written in 1930 and intended for an adult audience, while her first novel, Little House in the Big Woods , was not published until 1932. Ingalls Wilder added more tales of the harder side of life to this story, which she didn’t deem appropriate for the children’s books.
The success of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoirs is surprising to some, but given the popularity of the Little House books and television program, it’s no wonder this most recent gem has shot to the number one spot on Amazon . America has long been enthralled with the wholesome, old-fashioned Ingalls family. Pioneer Girl gives us a deeper look into the hardships as well as the blessings faced by Laura and her loved ones.
The book is not simply an autobiography, but has several annotations from editor Pamela Smith Hill , fan and historian of the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Hill has included items of interest to go along with the memoir and add to the historical significance, such as photos, letters, and historical records. She mentions that there are surprises to find, both delightful and possibly disappointing, within the pages of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s heartfelt stories.
People are talking about Pioneer Girl , tweeting about it, and reading it with great fascination.
So Pioneer Girl, that new Laura Ingalls Wilder annotated autobiography, just got here & it’s un-put-downable. Pictures, maps, etc.
— Kim Daniels (@KDaniels8) January 27, 2015
The ‘Pioneer Girl’ Project: The Long Road to Bringing Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 1930 Autobiography into Print http://t.co/M7lq3CkzIg
— Livia Blackburne (@lkblackburne) January 23, 2015
More like grim house on the prairie: @maloneyfiles with the real story on Laura Ingalls Wilder http://t.co/1zizK5dHSg
— Anna Russell (@anna_russell) December 5, 2014
This authentic memoir from the actual Laura Ingalls Wilder will appeal to fans of the books, TV show, and historians alike. It’s the next best thing to sitting down and having a cup of coffee with America’s favorite little prairie girl. If you want to know what life was really like in the wild west from one who lived there, pick up a copy of Prairie Girl and have a chat with Laura Ingalls Wilder.
[Image via Pioneer Girl Project ]