Ostensibly a biography of the famous author, this book is really a look at not only Wilder's life but also the times in which she lived. It is the story of her parents, Charles and Caroline, her sisters, Mary, Carrie and Grace, and her beloved husband, Almanzo. But it is also the story of her daughter Rose and their relationship - sometimes loving but often contentious.
Interwoven into all of these stories is the story of how the United States grew and changed during the lifespan of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The author's explanation of social and cultural changes is carefully interwoven with the lives of Laura and those who surround her. These explanations help explain many of Laura's attitudes and opinions.
Loaded with information, this book took me awhile to read. The portrait of Laura Ingalls Wilder isn't always a nice one but ultimately I found myself liking the real person and not the fictional version I grew up with. Her daughter, Rose, doesn't come across as very likable and often not very nice to her mother. Still, according to the author, there was no denying the bond between mother and daughter.
At the end of her life, swamped with letters from an adoring public, Laura often found herself unable to respond to each as personally as she would have liked. One quote that she used often was this: "The most valuable thing for life never changes by time or place - it is to be honest and cheerful, to find happiness in what you have, and to have courage in hardships." Words for all of us to live by.
This book was well worth the time it took me to read it and left me with a new perspective on someone I thought I knew well.
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