Was Laura Ingalls Wilder a feminist?

[WeAreJackieWeaver]

Having read absolutely everything on my reading list this year, I’m re-reading the Little House on the Prairie books.
I loved these books as a child, now reading them as an adult I’m struck how fiercely Laura fought to be allowed outside her gender box. She’s fiesty, loves being physical, running and riding horses and hates the expectations placed on her by society just because she’s a girl. Girls should sit quietly and do womanly tasks like sewing.
Her sister Mary is the complete opposite and loves being feminine and embraces the expectations of her.
Both girls were highly intelligent and their education was encouraged by very progressive (for the time) parents.

During this never-ending winter lockdown the books have helped give me some perspective on the hardship of lives past but I’m loving reading about Laura’s gender non-conforming escapades.

Has anyone else read the books?

I am sure I remember reading that 'Cap' wasn't his real name but I can't remember what it was.

Oscar Edmund Garland, according to the link upthread.

Thanks EBear.

I would love to be able to read some of the 'biographies' that Rose had published - ones about Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin etc. Apparently they were heavily fiction and terrible. I should image they are long long out of print.

Oh, it was Helen Dore Boylston's WW1 nursing diary I read, not Rose's. She and Rose lived together at one point, and travelled through Europe together- I think Travels With Zenobia is still in print.

I think I read that one, @SydneyCarton -- he seemed to be forever tying himself into knots over the number and frequency of blizzards during the Long Winter. Yes, I think he just didn't get autobiographical fiction. He also seemed like someone who was about to have an ulcer from the stress of trying to reconcile newspaper records with the novels!

@Pluas @SydneyCarton Can you remember the Title/author? I'd like to read it.

Just downloaded Caroline, Little House revisited so thanks to whoever recommended that!

I hadn't heard about the 'Caroline' book either so I am off to Google it...

I loved all the books as a child and, when re-reading them really noticed the practical “how to” for all kinds of skills - like the sheets “side to middle”, Pa cleaning his gun, the “whatnot with paper frills” and all the food preparation (particularly in Farmer Boy!). One day I am definitely going to make Eliza Jane’s straw “air castle” (seemingly they are a thing!).

I often thought I would like to read a LIW biography & so have just ordered Prairie Fires! There must be a run on copies. I read a great book about the relationship between LM Alcott and her mother - think called “Louisa and Marmee” - again the “story” was a much rosier interpretation of the “facts”. Thanks for the post, OP!

What a great thread, this has cheered me up.
I read all the books as a young child, I had the set of 12 in a box set and went through them multiple times.I recall sympathizing with Laura and her sibling rivalry..

Mary never fully recovered from the illness that caused her blindness and she had to be sent home part way through one year at the Blind School having spent some month in its Sick Bay. She then missed another full year ill at home. That's why it spread over 7 years. In real life, the Ingalls didn't pay college fees. The school was paid for from the public purse. They did need to pay for Mary's transport to and from school and for her clothes. The school was distressed at how many people who could have benefitted were unable to attend because their families could not afford transport and clothes.

While I'm not as widely read around the autobiographical fiction series, I have read something by Rose about her family, and possibly something by a biographer, though I can't remember which books. It was some years ago.

I got the impression that Rose was a lesbian. Not necessarily strictly in the closet, either, but certainly not open in her parents home town, nor in her writings.

@SallyMcNally Sorry, I can’t remember the title. I’d know it if I saw the right cover but nothing on Amazon rang a bell. William Anderson has written lots of LIW stuff, it might be one of his.

I think it was me who mentioned Caroline; I think I bought it for my mum and got the free kindle sample with it. It starts with them leaving the Big Woods for the prairie and within a few pages Pa has almost killed them all by crossing the frozen Mississippi far too late in the season . Naturally he’s all “lol that was close“ and Ma is just gritting her teeth trying not to scream.

SuperLemonCrush The food in Farmer Boy is to die for! They all eat so much but the physical labour of farm work must have meant having to pack in the calories like crazy. You can buy a Little House cookbook with recipes for all the food Laura talks about (possibly not fried pig’s tail though )

Oh gosh, never knew there was a cookbook, Sydney! Will need to have a look...everyone needs to stop recommending books!

I always fancied making the vanity cakes.

I have just googled a recipe for vanity cakes. I am not sold, having looked at that. Basically a dort of sweet fritter, which the recipe I found doesn't make sound good.

Oh, then I found another recipe, which looked better.

I've tried many times, Polkadots. The closest Ive got is with tempura batter.

I was intrigued by the “whatnot” .

Also wry amusement at how Laura marvelled when they acquired “boughten” items rather than home made. Ah, if she could see the containers of plastic crap being imported from China now... perhaps she would be thrilled if she could land in the present day and go on a trip to B&M Stores...

Actually in the present day there would be group Ingalls trips to Target I expect and Pa would be in Home Depot.

Some years ago a MNetter went to the Little House on the Prairie museum and bought a Pa’s violin fridge magnet. I nearly died of envy !

We had a pigs tail in Myanmar, the kids were thrilled to try it because they knew what a treat it was... but didn’t love it!

Ahh, those were simpler times when Laura couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have got her own tin mug and a bit of candy for Christmas.

Just received ‘Prairie Fires’ and read the sample of Caroline last night... you’ve all sent me down a prairie rabbit hole. DD will be sporting a sun bonnet by summer.

To be sure, if you make a start right now, you'll have the final decorative stitching done by the time the sun comes back, MrsWooster.

I went hunting for the great lives episode on BBC sounds and found this Sunday Feature on Laura Ingalls America. So excited by all the new things I have to read/listen to/watch now.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b09hrr7n

I always fancied the popovers until I realised they were just Yorkshire puddings. Also pie plant (Laura makes a pie with it when she’s first married and forgets to put sugar in the pie, which is “mortifying” because it’s so sour) which I think might be rhubarb???

The pie made from blackbirds made me want to heave though