Laura Ingalls Wilder, a name most of probably recognize, either becomes of her books, or the TV-series, or both. Ingalls Wilder is probably one of the most known children author thanks to her fictional retelling of her childhood. But, what not many people know is that without her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane is it a strong possibility that the never would have been any books.

Susan Wittig Albert has written a book about Rose Wilder Lane life and how it came to be that she ghostwrote the Laura Ingall Wilders books. Her mother wrote her memories and Rose Wilder Lane transformed the memories into the books we know today. It wasn't even supposed to be children's books, and absolutely not fiction. Laura Ingalls Wilder was adamant about that is should not be turned into fiction. But, the stubborn women caved in, in the end.

I had some problems getting into the story. I actually put it away and to read other books because I just couldn't seem to get into the story. It just didn't feel interesting enough. So it was with a bit of a heavy heart that I returned to read it. I've seen so many reviews from people that loved the book and I felt like I was the odd one out. And, it took some time for me to really get into the book. But, it grew on me. It's one of the books that kind of sneaks up on you and take you by surprise. I don't say it was an easy read. There are some parts that were better than others. For me has Rose Wilder Lane always just been the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but here she comes out of her mother's shadow. And, I think she deserves that. She deserves the credit for helping her mother write the books.

I just wish I could read Laura Ingalls Wilder's real biography. Not the fiction books that were written for children.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

(I received an advanced reviewer's copy/galley from Lake Union Publishing on NetGalley.) This book will be released in a new edition on March 17, 2015, and it attracted my attention not only because of the subject matter, but also because of the author - Susan Wittig Albert. I have read many of her mystery novels over the years, and have particularly enjoyed her China Bayles series.

"A Wilder Rose" is a fictionalized account of the life of Rose Wilder, the only surviving daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Rose's secret involvement in the publication of her mother's famous series of books based upon a pioneering childhoood in the Midwest. It is told in flashbacks by a latter-day Rose to a friend of hers, explaining why she is working on a revision of one of Laura's books, even though Rose's involvement is publicly minimized and Rose's name does not appear as a co-author of the series. In the process of her explanations, we learn a great deal about Rose's childhood, travels, and success as a writer before working on Laura's material.

What is presented is a very interesting portrait of an independent, self-sufficient feminist Rose before, during, and after the period of the Great Depression. Given the time period, it is at times quite a melancholy story of financial struggles and instability, that is overcome by perserverance and hard work. Much like the story told in Laura's "Little House" books (whether Rose does or does not acknowledge the similarity.) Perhaps more disturbing to readers might be the difficultIes portrayed in the relationship between mother and daughter, and Rose's struggles to distance herself, both physically and emotionally, from Laura.

I am a big fan of the books, and my initial (predictable) reaction was "how could anyone want to distance themselves from Laura Ingalls Wilder"? But of course, in considering the difficulties that arise between most parents and children, and the urge of every child to leave home, explore the world, and freely live their own lives, it is not all surprising. And no one is to blame. The author successfully illustrates the similar tensions that existed between Laura and her own mother Caroline, as well as Rose and her sort-of adopted son John, which reminds us that this tension is likely not based upon any particular conduct of anyone, but rather, simply due to common parent-child dynamics.

I point this out to illustrate that even though this is not a very sugar-coated fantasy about being the only daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, neither is it a bashing of Laura Ingalls Wilder - this is not "Mommie Dearest"! It is a well-written, and interesting story that is fascinating in its discussion of the publishing world during this time period, and the efforts of two women to write their own stories. It was a very enjoyable read for me.

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A fictionalized biography of Rose Wilder (Lane), the only child of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This was a great book that provided background to the Little House Books and Rose's part in them. Rose was a very educated and interesting woman in her own right and also a prolific author. 302 pages ( )

I really didn't think I was going to be able to finish this book, considering that Mrs. Lane's political views are utterly repugnant to me. But thanks to the author's skill, I was invested enough to read all the way to the end. ( )

Susan Wittig Albert mostly writes mysteries, and this was her first foray into historical fiction.  A Wilder Rose is based on the true story of Rose Wilder Lane and her much more famous mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House series.

Unpublished letters written by Rose and Laura, as well as Rose's unpublished diaries, reveal that Rose was an uncredited ghostwriter/editor in the first eight books in the Little House series.  Albert used this source information (as well as William Holtz's biography of Rose, The Ghost in the Little House) to craft her novel.

This book focuses on the years 1928-1939.  Rose (born 1886), a successful journalist and freelance writer, returns in 1928 from Albania to her parents' home and farm in Missouri when they (Laura was then 61, her husband and Rose's father Almanzo was 71) are ill.  Flush with funds, Rose spends extravagantly to build them a new house on their Rocky Ridge farm, with all the modern conveniences.  Then the stock market crashes in 1929, Rose's investments (and those of her parents, made with Rose's advice) are wiped out, the freelance market dries up, and Rose is stuck at Rocky Ridge, feeling guilty and obligated toward her parents.

Rose encourages her mother to write down her stories of her pioneer girlhood, but the resulting first manuscript needed a LOT of work.  Rose did this, but did not claim any co-authorship.  Her goal was to create an income stream for her parents through book royalties, relieving the financial burden on herself.  The book, Little House in the Big Woods, was so successful that publishers wanted more - and Rose was further stuck, longing to escape Rocky Ridge but unable to work much on her own writing while editing her mother's.

But this book isn't just the story of this uncomfortable collaboration. Rose Wilder Lane is a fascinating person in her own right, and Albert covers most of her interesting life by including an epilogue.  The book also has a four-plus page bibliography, and Albert has a reader's companion with more details about the book's writing on a resources page on the book's website (along with a bibliography-in-progress of Rose's works, and a link to a Pinterest board).

I read the original 2013 self-published version of the book. In February 2015, the book was republished under an Amazon imprint, and Albert said in August 2014 that the book would get "a do-over....minor touchups and a few major revisions, using my own notes and some suggestions from Lake Union's editor, who gave the book a careful going-over."

I'd like to see this revised version.  My problem with the original book was the inclusion of a little too much repetitive and extraneous details and tedious anecdotes that slowed the story down.  I'm curious to see if those were edited out in the reprint.

I do know that the third-person sections of the book, set in Rose's home in Danbury, Connecticut, in April 1939, remain in the revised version.  I found these sections somewhat distracting, as they pulled me out of the more-compelling first-person narrative in Rose's voice.  According to a Q&A, Albert used the (real) Norma Lee Browning as "an 'interlocutor' to get Rose to tell her story and an audience to hear her and react" and "a way to show some of Rose’s controlling behavior."  Given this explanation, the diversions from the first-person story line makes sense.

Albert originally wrote the book as creative or narrative nonfiction, according to an interview, but her agent found no one willing to publish it in that genre, either because they felt it would have a niche audience, or because they felt it didn't adhere to "the legend of Missouri housewife Wilder as the primary author of the books."  That's when Albert decided to recast the book as fiction and self-publish.  Given her previous success as an author and familiarity with publishing, she knew how to do this successfully.  I'm looking forward to more historical fiction by this author.

© Amanda Pape - 2017

[This book was borrowed from and returned to my local public library.] ( )