I choose to read this book for a couple of reasons. I have a feeling that my wife will also enjoy this book. Plus, I really liked creator Peter Bagge's biography of Zora Neale Hurston. The main subject of this book is Rose Wilder Lane; the daughter of one Laura Ingalls Wilder; writer and main character of the Little House on the Prairie series of books.
My wife grew up in the 70s and 80s during a time when interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiographical books was at a resurgence thanks to the Little House on the Prairie TV show that starred Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert. I think my wife would have been considered a fanatic of Little House as a kid. She read all of the books- numerous times over! She watched the show religiously, refusing to go to bed until after the program ended. And for Halloween and just regular kid play time, she and her sister would dress up as the characters and play with the neighbor children as Laura and sister Caroline.
Anyways, back to Rose. If it wasn't for Lane, the Little House books might never have happened. Laura was great at recalling past events. But she was unable to divert from the facts to make her tales very interesting. Thus, it's safe to say that Rose was definitely the editor of Laura's memoirs. There's also a very good argument amongst fans that she may have rewritten if not completely ghost written a very large portion of the books. While Rose's contributions to Laura's writings are the main reason I (and probably my wife will) read this book, it's actually not her only contribution to the literary world.
Rose Wilder Lane was a pioneering feminist writer in the 1930s-early 50s. Wilder toured much of Europe and chronicled her visits in a number of publications including The Saturday Evening Post and Woman's Day. She was like a precursor to the Travel Channel! Much of her earliest fiction writings were considered scandalous if only for the tawdry episodes of romance and passion that the stories contained. Though it didn't help that it was a woman who was writing such 'trash.' But it was her political essays that got the writer into the most trouble.
Among those who favor smaller government, Rose Wilder Lane is considered a pioneer of Libertarianism. She was also a staunch anti-Communist and anti-Fascist. This won her a lot of fans who were afraid of the rise of political tyrannies in Europe and Asia as well as government overreach at home. Yet, during World War II, when Lane began to criticize FDR's New Deal policies, the writer began to incur the wraith of the FBI. All of a sudden, Lane was deemed unpatriotic. In retaliation, Lane stepped up her critique of American policy, including the unfair treatment of blacks and women. She also decided to forgo large paychecks in order to not have to pay the government a single dime from her coffers!
To say Rose Wilder Lane was an odd duck is putting it mildly. Thanks to her pioneer upbringing, she was fiercely independent. Lane couldn't stay still, travelling and pulling up stakes frequently. She might have been bi-sexual based on some of her long-time companions. The writer might have been involved in a couple of cults; though they were way less creepy than a lot of the ones we see on the news nowadays. Sadly, Rose also suffered from bi-polar disorder.
I really feel that Lane's mental illness was the one thing that Peter Bagge glossed over. Bagge merely hints at the possible homosexual affairs as there's never been definitive proof of such. But Lane had a tragic stillbirth, which resulted in an emergency hysterectomy. The loss of the chance to become a mother haunted her throughout her life and resulted in the unofficial adoption of many children and grandchildren. Peter Bagge does chronicle these relationships. I just don't feel that he really captures the lows Lane suffered from as much as focusing on her highs.
I gotta say that Peter Bagge doesn't paint a rosy picture of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She seemed like a mean old biddy and I'm glad she wasn't my grandmother! From how my wife talked, I thought Laura and her husband Almanzo were this perfect, loving couple. In reality, she was such a bitter person that the man Laura dubbed 'Manly' was seriously emasculated. As for Rose, I really think Laura did anything but make her life a living hell. No wonder Rose wanted to be anywhere but where she was!
A powerful account of an almost forgotten character of 20th century American history. With an extensive notes section, full of photos and facts, it was a good read. Though, a magnifying glass with that small print font might be needed.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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