Discovering Laura The Historical Laura Ingalls Wilder Volume 1

What was the real world behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved Little House books?For generations, millions of readers have traveled the American frontier alongside beloved children's author Laura Ingalls Wilder, but the rich historical world surrounding her remarkable life has often remained hidden. In this first volume of a landmark three-volume series, historian Dr. Pierson Yecke brings that world vividly to life.Drawing on extensive research and an extraordinary range of primary sources, Dr. Yecke explores the people, places, ideas, and events that shaped both Wilder's childhood and the nation she called home. From frontier education and westward expansion to pioneer hardships, politics, religion, science, and daily life, Discovering Laura reveals the historical realities behind the stories that have inspired generations.More than a companion to the Little House books, this work is an immersive journey into nineteenth-century America. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for Wilder's writing while discovering how her experiences reflected-and sometimes challenged-the larger forces that transformed the American frontier.Written with the precision of a scholar and the accessibility of a gifted storyteller, this essential resource enriches the reading of Laura Ingalls Wilder for devoted fans, educators, homeschooling families, students of American history, and serious Wilder scholars alike.Volume One begins an unforgettable exploration of the extraordinary life, enduring legacy, and historical world of one of America's most cherished authors.