A Wilder Rose by Susan Wittig Albert
Publisher: Persevero Press
Publication Date: August 2013
Categories: Historical, Literary
Source: Susan Wittig Albert
Description:
In 1928, Rose Wilder Lane—world traveler, journalist, much-published magazine writer—returned from an Albanian sojourn to her parents’ Ozark farm. Almanzo Wilder was 71, Laura 61, and Rose felt obligated to stay and help. To make life easier, she built them a new home, while she and Helen Boylston transformed the farmhouse into a rural writing retreat and filled it with visiting New Yorkers. Rose sold magazine stories to pay the bills for both households, and despite the subterranean tension between mother and daughter, life seemed good.
Then came the Crash. Rose’s money vanished, the magazine market dried up, and the Depression darkened the nation. That’s when Laura wrote her autobiography, “Pioneer Girl,” the story of growing up in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, on the Kansas prairie, and by the shores of Silver Lake. The rest—the eight remarkable books that followed—is literary history.
But it isn’t the history we thought we knew. For the surprising truth is that Laura’s stories were publishable only with Rose’s expert rewriting. Based on Rose’s unpublished diaries and Laura’s letters, A Wilder Rose tells the true story of the decade-long, intensive, and often troubled collaboration that produced the Little House books—the collaboration that Rose and Laura deliberately hid from their agent, editors, reviewers, and readers.
Why did the two women conceal their writing partnership? What made them commit what amounts to one of the longest-running deceptions in American literature? And what happened in those years to change Rose from a left-leaning liberal to a passionate Libertarian?
In this impeccably researched novel and with a deep insight into the book-writing business gained from her own experience as an author and coauthor, Susan Wittig Albert follows the clues that take us straight to the heart of this fascinating literary mystery
Then came the Crash. Rose’s money vanished, the magazine market dried up, and the Depression darkened the nation. That’s when Laura wrote her autobiography, “Pioneer Girl,” the story of growing up in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, on the Kansas prairie, and by the shores of Silver Lake. The rest—the eight remarkable books that followed—is literary history.
But it isn’t the history we thought we knew. For the surprising truth is that Laura’s stories were publishable only with Rose’s expert rewriting. Based on Rose’s unpublished diaries and Laura’s letters, A Wilder Rose tells the true story of the decade-long, intensive, and often troubled collaboration that produced the Little House books—the collaboration that Rose and Laura deliberately hid from their agent, editors, reviewers, and readers.
Why did the two women conceal their writing partnership? What made them commit what amounts to one of the longest-running deceptions in American literature? And what happened in those years to change Rose from a left-leaning liberal to a passionate Libertarian?
In this impeccably researched novel and with a deep insight into the book-writing business gained from her own experience as an author and coauthor, Susan Wittig Albert follows the clues that take us straight to the heart of this fascinating literary mystery
My Thoughts:
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| About the Author |
When I first heard that Laura Ingalls Wilder may not have actually written the Little House series I had what I call a “toddler moment”. I stuck my fingers in my ears and absolutely refused to believe it. Say it ain’t so!
So, when I was approached by the author of this book I was leery to say the least. Do I want to hear about this? Do I want to have my childhood RUINED? (I’m a wee bit dramatic at times.)
I am thankful that I gave this book a shot. It explained a difficult situation and soothed my ruffled feathers. It made sense.
A Wilder Rose is a perfect blend of fact and fiction. It’s clear, energetic, and a must for any fan of the Little House books.
The Relentless Reader 
Gah! I should've accepted this one for review.
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HAHAHAHA I felt the SAME WAY when I heard about this book. I've been waiting for one of my trusted bloggy friends to put their toes in the water first, teehee. Glad you did, I think I'll give this one a try now! 🙂
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I haven't read the Little House books, I admit, but I was a big fan of the tv show growing up–I know, not the same thing, but I think I might have had the same initial reaction you did upon hearing the premise of this book. LOL Just from reading the description of the book though, I can see how it would make sense. This sounds like an interesting book.
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I won this from Kirkus Book Reviews. We'll see if I agree with you.
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Wow. I had no idea about that! Fascinating. I loved those books as a kid!
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I used to love the tv show Little House on the Prairie. I was Laura Ingalls for Halloween one year…now I'm dating myself! lolThis sounds interesting. So the mother and daughter wrote the books right? Laura and Rose.
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I've never been a huge Little House fan, but stuff like this is still totally intriguing to me and I know I would love this!
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Interesting! I enjoyed the Little House books, at least the few I know I read.
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Holy crap! This sounds fascinating! I have a friend who dressed up as Laura Ingalls Wilder every Halloween for years. I'm not sure I should tell her about this one… Perhaps she'd have a toddler moment too?
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I'm officially intrigued. I will be interested to find out the story behind that very successful collaboration!
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That's a fascinating story! Definitely not something I knew. I need to read this.
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That's a good description–\”toddler moment.\” So that's what I have when something happens in a book that I don't like! I throw \”toddler moments\” all the time. New term–very useful. 🙂
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I WILL be reading this! The description you gave gave me a toddler fit of my own. No one dare talk smack about Laura Ingalls Wilder to me! She was my hero from the minute I owned her set of books until at least sixth grade. I pretty much just reread her books for years! No other books except the ones I teach can claim that on me…I don't reread books.Ok, tantrum over. I will read this book because I also like to know the truth and because I trust you when you say it all pans out in the end. How can I be a book brainiac if I don't even know the basics behind the one author I was a hipster fangirl for back in the 80s?
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A must read for me!
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It's hard to pick and choose between the offers!
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Well now you know, lol. It made me feel much better about the whole situation 😀
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You should read them now, seriously! 😀 I read them while growing up and I read them to my oldest daughter when she was a young lady. Ahh, such great memories.
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I hope that you do!
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I heard about the possibility years ago and I wanted to pull my hair out, lol. This book explained it all very well.
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I really loved the show as well! I used to watch it with my dad 😉 I'm dating myself as well, lol!
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Even if you haven't read the books this would still be a very interesting tale 😀
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They were some of my faves when I was a girl. I wanted to BE Laura 😀
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I had a pioneer girl costume one year. My mom sewed it for me. My dad built a covered wagon our of our little red wagon, lengths of garden hose and a white sheet. Damn, that was awesome.
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It's a very interesting story!
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It's pretty scandalous! No one wants to hear that about one of their beloved authors. But this book put it all together in a believable way 😀
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Better than a \”senior moment\” right? 🙂 Ha!
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I hope you'll be able to get to it soon!
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I know just how you feel! I really do. Once you read this book it all makes a lot more sense, and it's not as bad as I imagined it to be 😀 Whew!!
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I did the same fingers in the ears dance when I first the possibility that Laura didn't write the books. And like you, when Albert contacted me to review her book, I was a bit skittish, leery, squeamish. But read it I did, and I agree with everything you've said here. And I felt better about it all when I was done. 🙂
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Very interested in this. I only read the first book in the series, but they're so famous it's hard not to know quite a bit regardless. It's interesting it took so long to be uncovered.
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Great minds think alike you know 😉 And it seems there are quite a few of us who thought this book was great! I'm glad 😀
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You're right. You don't have to read the books to know the story of the books 😀
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Ooh, I was offered this book too, but I turned it down. I think I was turned off by it being a novel; it seems like an interesting topic, but I would prefer a non-fiction account of this story.
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That's one of the reasons why I almost turned it down! I still would like to read a nonfiction account 😀
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The nonfiction account is: Ghost In The Little House. I forgot the author's name.
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I haven't read the Little House series (younger generation reader here, sorry!), but this story does sound intriguing. Do you think I should read Little House books first? 🙂
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Cool, thanks!!
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Hmm, you don't HAVE to read them to enjoy this book. But I do think that EVERYONE IN THE WORLD should read the Little House series 😉
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You sparked my interest at \”1928\”. Let me be honest… I do not like the book cover, but the story sounds like something I would totally love to read 🙂
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I'll be honest too..the cover isn't my favorite 😉 LOL, good book though!!
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