Plot Summary

Prairie Fires

Caroline Fraser
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Prairie Fires

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2017

Book Brief

Caroline Fraser

Prairie Fires

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2017
Book Details
Pages

641

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

American Midwest • 19th century

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser, is a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder that situates her life and literary work within the broader historical context of the American Midwest. Fraser explores Wilder's early struggles in a nomadic, impoverished family and later hardships in marriage, showing how these experiences influenced her Little House series, which blends autobiographical elements with fiction. The book addresses issues such as food insecurity and medical challenges.

Informative

Nostalgic

Melancholic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

21,534 ratings

74%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Caroline Fraser's Prairie Fires offers a compelling and exhaustive exploration of Laura Ingalls Wilder's life and America's frontier history. Praised for its meticulous research and rich contextual background, the book has been critiqued for its dense detail, which some readers find overwhelming. However, its comprehensive narrative provides a nuanced understanding of Wilder’s legacy.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Prairie Fires?

Readers who appreciated the intricate historical narrative in The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson or the biographical depth in Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin will find Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser compelling. It appeals to those interested in American history, biography, and the frontier era, with vivid storytelling and meticulous research.

4.1

21,534 ratings

74%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

641

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

American Midwest • 19th century

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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