Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser

Prairie Fires: 

The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Caroline Fraser

Published 2017

⭐⭐

This was A HIT PIECE on Laura Ingalls Wilder, her life, the legacy and success of the Little House stories in American culture, Laura's wayward daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, pioneer America, Conservative/Libertarian ideals, and anyone else who crossed those paths! 

Obviously Fraser did extensive historical research for her project, but it didn't help me appreciate her work. At first it read like a really strong chronological history of Laura Ingalls' life and what happened simultaneously in America and the world. But after Rose Wilder was born, Fraser's bitter, contemptuous, and detestable presentation snowballed at full speed and fury. It wouldn't be odd to walk away from this book and think negatively about Rose Wilder or anything that she espoused. Granted, she was a troubled woman. But my goodness! Fraser comes across as the typical self-righteousness elitist who has the power to expose the truth, and does so by being snide and arrogant toward those whom she disagrees, especially politically. 

After finishing these 600 plus pages, I had such an awful taste in my mouth for having read it and for having purchased a copy without knowing its callous and unkind purpose. It's one thing to write historical truth, but more time was spent belittling dead people and their ideas far beyond Laura Ingalls Wilder's American dreams. 

In my opinion...If you love and appreciate the Little House series and are open to knowing more truth about Laura's tumultuous life and the rocky relationship with her unstable daughter, then there are other sources, like Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You do not need to read Prairie Fires. Keep that love for the Little House stories, how they affect you, and how you experience them. Don't let Caroline Fraser ruin your acquaintance with them.