“Even as she acknowledged the hard labor of milking, churning, raising and caring for chickens, washing, ironing, and cleaning, she praised the path she had chosen as “a freer, happier, healthier life” than any other.”
Millions of readers 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 children’s books. But the true saga of her life has never been entirely 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Now, drawing on unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and land and financial records, Caroline Fraser ― the editor of the Library of America edition of the Little House series ―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. Revealing the grown-up story behind the most influential childhood epic of pioneer life, she also chronicles Wilder’s tumultuous relationship with her journalist daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, setting the record straight regarding charges of ghostwriting that have swirled around the books.
Read an insightful look at Laura’s pioneering life in our exclusive essay “You Need a Farm! Laura Ingalls Wilder and American Farming” written by Caroline Fraser.
ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY
Two prize packages each consisting of:
One autographed hardcover copy of Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser – A comprehensive historical biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie books.
One copy of the “The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder” documentary DVD – Learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder in this insightful hour-long documentary directed by Dean Butler.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY – November 15 to 30, 2017
Use your Facebook account or name and email, so that your entries count. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age and older. Please log into the Rafflecopter giveaway widget below.
The first entry is the newsletter sign up – confirm your subscription to unlock the other, optional entry methods. The giveaway will run from November 15 to 30, 2017. Winners will be contacted via email once their entry authenticity is confirmed.
There are two different cover copies on Amazon – what is the difference in the copies
I’d love to add this book to my Little House collection! Thanks for offering this great giveaway.
My daughters and grandchildren love Little House on the Prairie. I read several of the series to them as children. I still remember how much we looked forward to reading it together. So happy to see my daughter reading them to her children.
I enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie series when I was younger. I was always influenced by the way they cooked and did gardening back in the 1880’s. That’s when my relatives came to Wisconsin to live when they came from Belgium, gives me an idea what they did then too.
Love the Laura’s books. Would love to win these and learn even more about her life.
I have started reading the Little House Books as a child and as an adult, I have all of the books in this series as well as books about Laura’s great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter Rose. I have two great-nieces whose mother’s maiden name is Ingalls so she is related to one of Charles’ brothers. I hope to give my collection to them someday. I would enjoy either prize.
I have read all the Little House books my daughters have some of my grandchildren have and now my great granddaughter is I love these books and would read them all over again ( I have read them 3 times )
I have always love The Little House On The Prairie Books. I remember as a kid, going to my library and checking out the books. This was back in the early 70’s. Then I was so excited when the television series came out. Now to have a chance to win this prize package,a dream come true. Thanks for this oppurtunity to win.
Thank you for the chance to win! I would love to read this book.
One of my absolute favourite programmes as a child – and have managed to catch a few reruns with my daughter – who is equally smitten.
What a fabulous prize for a very lucky winner.
#fingerscrossed
IF, I WIN WILL BE HAPPY, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE DOES WILL BE EVEN MORE HAPPIER.
what a nice giveaway, I watched every episode as a child, so did my daughter and now it’s time to introduce my granddaughter!
I would love to win this book. We watch Little House everyday. I still enjoy watching it.
I love reading all the books and while I like the TV show I can’t help saying: ” now that’s not what happened” a lot.as I watch each episode. I’ll stick to the books and biographies as they are much more intriguing and I know they aren’t spiced up just for entertainment. The real Ingalls and Wilder families were people I enjoy meeting in the books and we can visit a lot longer through each page
i love reading the little house books, though i no longer have my set, i need to find another set of the books
I loved reading these as a child & I still do today!!
I introduced both my daughters to the series and they loved them! My youngest daughter searched for all the rest of the books related. She has a small bookcase over-flowing with all the books! We visited South Dakota and Missouri to see the places from the books and my daughter would tell us all about what she read and what happened. It was an extremely memorable vacation and we have awesome family memories. She still re-reads the books even though she’s in her 20’s!
I would love to win. I loved reading,” Little House on the Prairie,” to my daughters when they were little.
I would love to win this for my daughter and her husband they have got a lot of Little House DVD!I do not twitter
Thank you. Even if I don’t win a book and DVD, the information about what is available will help me when I teach.
I would love to win this book. In fact I still have the “Little House” episodes on DVD’s!
Thank you for the opportunity to win this.
This is such a nice item to win. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
I love the shows and books!!
I have Laura since I was a child. I read and re-read the books. Now my daughter is reading them.
I am hoping to win, but wishing every one luck.
me, too opal!!! you are very sweet!
I have never won much, but this would be so exciting to receive. fingers crossed
I’ve enjoyed Susan Wittig Albert’s book “A Wilder Rose” about the relationship between Laura and her daughter Rose. I have read and enjoyed all of the Little House books and anything Little House related.
hope I win! : )
Love Laura!
AS a child I always watched every Little House on the Prairie….I would love to win this book.
I would love to win the books
I have been to DeSmet at least three times and to Walnut Grove once and then to Mansfield, Mo. once. I have almost all of the Little House Series except for series 9 and 10 I had thought there were only 8 so now have to buy the newer ones. Even though Landons shows didn’t follow Laura’s stories to the T I still enjoy the shows. I read the book Pioneer Girl it was ok but sometimes seemed as if her daughter Rose nitpicked on her mother Laura’s truth to much. Would love to win this new book.
WIN! WIN!! WIN!! 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
I grew yp with this great show. I enjoyed when they outwitted Nellie,s mischief
I love this story and I watch it twice every day once in the morning an then for two hours in the afternoon. would love to win.
Grew up with LittleHouse on Prairie.
Now just try to appreciate all I have and how easy life sometimes has become
I would love to win this too! Just so you know Im a Canadian and I have entered the contest even though it said it was only for US. I’m hoping if the issue is postage, then I’d gladly pay it!
I would love to win this too! Just so you know Im a Canadian and I have entered the contest even though it said it was only for US. I’m hoping if the issue is postage, then I’d gladly pay it!
I enjoy reading all her books or anything is aviable from Little House parire .
Thank-you,
Nancy
I have been a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter’s literature, Rose Wilder Lane as long as I can remember.I still re-read the Little House books as well as some of Laura’s unknown articles which are still lessons/ articles relevant today, almost 100 years later. I would love to add this book to my Little House collection. I collect dolls that resemble the Little House characters and have an American Girl doll that I customized for my Laura.
The series of Little house other than the Nancy Drew were the first set of books that I got into, when I was in elementary school, I was hooked and kept reading and reading! Loved them and every now and then when at my local library I will check one out and brings me right back to be a kid again!
Really enjoyed our visit to Mansfield this summer. Still watch reruns on tv.
I am such a fan, this would be amazing to add to my collection
Need to make my extensive book collection even more extensive
As a teacher of fourth grade my students learned to know,
Of the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder of long ago,
We spent several weeks enjoying the stories she wrote,
Along with digging deep into her family’s life on every note,
We spent days in the “ one room” schoolhouse pretending to be,
Friends of Laura in order for each student to see,
What life was like, from schooling to eating foods which she ate,
With each student enjoying life during Laura’s own dates,
Each student was fascinated with the differences between now and then,
That they loved their reading time during which they could pretend,
And, pretend we did from our discovery of stories which Laura wrote,
We all had learned so much of her existence and the life she wore for a coat!
Sure hope I win!
I loved her books as a child and enjoy re-reading them. This book sounds wonderful.
I have loved the Little House books, television program, and have visited her Minnesota and South Dakota homes. Wonderful stories. I can’t wait to read this! I’m hoping to win!
Would love to preview this book for my book club. We have read the Little House series and would love to add this to our collection!
I have read her books thru the years still love reading them. My grandkids love reading them too. This would be a great gift. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you! I am a lifelong fan. This would be wonderful to win.
I would just love this !
This looks great, I’m going to check it out if i don’t win it!
Love the Little House books.
i love the shows and read all her books. love the pioneer times…would be delighted to win.
So Canadians can not apply? I love Laura and dream one day to see Rocky Ridge, I have all Little House books, and the DVD’s of the show, also I have Pioneer Girl and my niece gave me” I Remember Laura”, looking to add to my collection, big fan
I’m sorry, no – the legalities province to province make it much trickier to plan a sweepstakes internationally.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this contest. I read the Little House books as a child. Loved the TV series. Named my 1st born Laura Elizabeth (Elizabeth is also my name). I have continued to pick up books that continued stories of her life. This prize package would be a most welcome addition to my journey.
I really like Laura and would love to win this.
grandma and i would grab our box of tissues and watch this show every week :). i would love to read this book, learn more about the history.
would love to win we watch the tv show regularly my girls own the books and now there girls read them.
Great to have mor insight on this wonderfull author.
I’m a huge fan. I would love to read the book and learn everything.
I have been a Little House lover since the initial tv show began when I was senior in high school. I have all the DVD’s and have visited Laura’s home in Mansfield several times. I always thought that I should have been raised in that era.
Would love this so much.
I have read all of her books and my niece also. I have love the Little House on the priare TV show.
I would love to win this!