The Not so Little Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Ingalls Wilder did not spend many years of her life writing her famous book series, but those idle years of writing produced memorable ideas for her stories. Wilder’s life, as well as the legacy of her books, contained prosperity along with some turmoil. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was born near Pepin, Wisconsin on February 7, 1867 in a log cabin (Kort 353). She was the second of four daughters born to Charles and Caroline Ingalls (Kort 353; Harmon par 4) The two generations before her were pioneers and she was one, too (Demuth 5). Her mother was described as a down-to-business kind of woman, while her father was described as a dreamer, which lead to the family moving numerous times
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“[Wanting] to record the pictures that [hung] in her memory”, is the reason she gave for writing her books. Her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 and was about her life in the Wisconsin woods (Kort 354). The next book was Famer Boy, published in 1933, and was an account of Almonzo’s childhood living on a farm (354). The third book in the series and the best-selling one, is Little House on the Prairie and was published in 1935 (Kort 354. It carried on the story of her childhood that began in the first book and the books that followed in her would do the same in chronological order. In 1937 On the Banks of Plum Creek, an account of her life in Minnesota, was publish. By the Shores of Silver Lake, published in 1939,The Long Winter, published in 1940, and Little Town on the Prairie, published in 1941 were all about life in the Dakota Territory. The eight book, These Happy Golden Years, also took place in the territory, but focused on her teaching and marriage. A ninth book titled The First Four Years was published in 1976 after her death (Kort 354). In all of her books she never wrote about her families’s time in Iowa, because she did not want to write about her brother’s death (Lifson par 7). Her books were very popular with young readers at the time she was writing them, and many fans would send her letters asking for more books (Harmon par 2). She finished her series at age seventy-six, but continued to do housework and help her husband with farm work(Kort 354; Harmon par
“[Wanting] to record the pictures that [hung] in her memory”, is the reason she gave for writing her books. Her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 and was about her life in the Wisconsin woods (Kort 354). The next book was Famer Boy, published in 1933, and was an account of Almonzo’s childhood living on a farm (354). The third book in the series and the best-selling one, is Little House on the Prairie and was published in 1935 (Kort 354. It carried on the story of her childhood that began in the first book and the books that followed in her would do the same in chronological order. In 1937 On the Banks of Plum Creek, an account of her life in Minnesota, was publish. By the Shores of Silver Lake, published in 1939,The Long Winter, published in 1940, and Little Town on the Prairie, published in 1941 were all about life in the Dakota Territory. The eight book, These Happy Golden Years, also took place in the territory, but focused on her teaching and marriage. A ninth book titled The First Four Years was published in 1976 after her death (Kort 354). In all of her books she never wrote about her families’s time in Iowa, because she did not want to write about her brother’s death (Lifson par 7). Her books were very popular with young readers at the time she was writing them, and many fans would send her letters asking for more books (Harmon par 2). She finished her series at age seventy-six, but continued to do housework and help her husband with farm work(Kort 354; Harmon par