Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane: Authorship, Place, Time, and Culture

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane: Authorship, Place, Time, and Culture, by John E. Miller, is a compilation of critical essays exploring the themes of place, time, and culture in the lives and writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane.

Miller first addresses the question of authorship, explaining that any serious assessment of the "Little House" series must begin with an understanding of the collaborative process between Wilder and Lane in the creation and development of the books, and then expounding on his interpretation of that process and the role each woman played in the writing and editing of the series.

In terms of "place", Miller provides an interesting discussion on the significance of the differing attractions of both Wilder and Lane to houses.

He then looks at "time" through a series of articles: an in-depth historical look at 1932, the year Little House in the Big Woods was published; a comparison of Wilder and Frederick Jackson Turner as frontier mythologists; and a look at an unpublished Missouri history written by Lane, compared and contrasted with Thomas Hart Benton's historical Missouri mural.

Finally, the concept of "culture" as it relates to the "Little House" books is examined as Miller readdresses first the development of Wilder's writing skills through her experiences as columnist for the Missouri Ruralist, and then the controversy and criticism surrounding the treatment of Native Americans in Wilder's books. Miller concludes with thoughtful commentary on the political views of Wilder and Lane, and how these beliefs were (and were not) evidenced in their writings.

This book is a welcome addition to the collection of scholarly critical works produced in recent years on Wilder and Lane. We recommend it for anyone interested in academic study of Laura Ingalls Wilder or Rose Wilder Lane.

Click here to purchase this book (all proceeds donated to LIW Homesites.)

Dean Butler and Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura

The new documentary, Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura, produced by Dean Butler of Legacy Documentaries, has been officially released on DVD.

The DVD is sold exclusively by the Wilder Farm in Burke, New York, and can be ordered online at Almanzo's General Store (you'll want to check out the other items available for purchase there, as well!) or by phoning the Wilder Farm at (518) 483-1207.

The price is $21.95, plus a shipping and handling fee.

Cheryl Malandrinos of the Laura's Little Houses blog has conducted an interview with Dean Butler about this documentary, as well as his experiences with the television show and the literary world of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Click here to read the full interview.

Dean Butler was also featured on the Ryan Lindsay show which aired September 25. You can listen to this interview online at Blogtalk Radio. (Wait through the brief advertisement that will appear when you click this link; the show will begin immediately afterward.)

For those who pre-ordered your DVD, you will be contacted by the Wilder Farm sometime in the next week or two for payment information.

Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura DVD Release

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new documentary entitled "Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura." The DVD is produced by Dean Butler of Legacy Documentaries. Many will recognize Dean as the actor who played the part of Almanzo Wilder in Michael Landon's television series "Little House on the Prairie."

Dean Butler has traveled to the childhood home of Almanzo Wilder in Burke, New York, to retell the story of Almanzo's youth as written about by Laura Ingalls Wilder in Farmer Boy. Using historic photographs, interviews with historians, animated Garth Williams illustrations, re-enacted scenes from Farmer Boy, and footage shot on location of the Wilder Farm near Malone, Dean Butler has put together a spectacular production that "Little House" fans will appreciate and enjoy for years to come.

The DVD will be released September 25, 2008, and is available for purchase only through the Almanzo Wilder Farm. Thanks to the generosity of Dean Butler, all proceeds will benefit the Wilder Farm. We encourage you all not to miss this opportunity to obtain an amazing documentary while supporting the Wilder Farm. We will post a reminder and link to purchase when the DVD is officially released.

Watch the trailer below for a taste of what the documentary will be like. We hope to see more "Little House" related productions from Legacy Documentaries in the future!

Click here to watch the video.