Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane: Authorship Place Time and Culture (Volume 1)

About this book

The mother-daughter partnership that produced the Little House books has fascinated scholars and readers alike. Now John E. Miller one of Americas leading authorities on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane combines analyses of both women to explore this collaborative process and shows how their books reflect the authors distinctive views of place time and culture. Along the way he addresses the two most controversial issues for Wilder/Lane aficionados: how much did Lane actually contribute to the writing of the Little House books and what was Wilders real attitude toward American Indians. Interpreting these writers in their larger historical and cultural contexts Miller reconsiders their formidable artistic political and literary contributions to American cultural life in the 1930s. He looks at what was happening in 1932from depression conditions and politics to chain stores and celebrity cultureto shed light on Wilders life and he shows how actual little houses established ideas of home that resonated emotionally for both writers. In considering each womans ties to history Miller compares Wilder with Frederick Jackson Turner as a frontier mythmaker and examines Lanes unpublished history of Missouri in the context of a contemporaneous project Thomas Hart Bentons famous Jefferson City mural. He also looks at Wilders Missouri Ruralist columns to assess her preLittle House values and writing skills and he readdresses her literary treatment of Native Americans. A final chapter shows how Wilders and Lanes conservative political views found expression in their work separating Lanes more libertarian bent from Wilders focus on writing moralist childrens fiction. These nine thoughtful essays expand the critical discussion on Wilder and Lane beyond the Little House. Miller portrays them as impassioned and dedicated writers who were deeply involved in the historical changes and political challenges of their timesand contends that questions over the books authorship do not do justice to either womans creative investment in the series. Miller demystifies the aura of nostalgia that often prevents modern readers from seeing Wilder as a real-life woman and he depicts Lane as a kindred artistic spirit helping readers better understand mother and daughter as both women and authors.