The First Four Years (novel)
Encyclopedia
The First Four Years is a book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder
and found in the belongings of Rose Wilder Lane
(Laura's daughter) by Roger Lea MacBride, Rose's heir, upon Rose's death in 1968. Laura wrote all of her books on dime store tablets, and the manuscript
of the book was found untouched, in Laura's handwriting, as Laura had written it.
It was apparently a first draft of a book Laura had decided to write, possibly as a ninth book in her Little House on the Prairie
series, but more likely as a separate novel for adults (much of the material is more for an adult audience than anything in her Little House books), but her actual intent is not known. She seems to have written the extant first draft sometime around 1940, and then apparently lost interest in the project. Roger MacBride
, the adopted grandson of Rose Wilder Lane, and executor of her estate, made a decision to publish The First Four Years without any editing, so it came directly from Laura's pencil to the written page. Because Laura never reworked the manuscript - and Rose never edited it (Rose edited all of her mother's earlier writings for publication), it is less polished in style than the books of the Little House series, but it is still unmistakably Laura's writing.
summers, and several other tragic events described in the book eventually drove them from their land, but they later founded a very successful fruit and dairy farm in Missouri
, where they lived comfortably until their respective deaths.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family...
and found in the belongings of Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist...
(Laura's daughter) by Roger Lea MacBride, Rose's heir, upon Rose's death in 1968. Laura wrote all of her books on dime store tablets, and the manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
of the book was found untouched, in Laura's handwriting, as Laura had written it.
It was apparently a first draft of a book Laura had decided to write, possibly as a ninth book in her Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Little House is a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was published originally between 1932 and 1943, with four additional books published posthumously, in 1962, 1971, 1974 and 2006.-History:...
series, but more likely as a separate novel for adults (much of the material is more for an adult audience than anything in her Little House books), but her actual intent is not known. She seems to have written the extant first draft sometime around 1940, and then apparently lost interest in the project. Roger MacBride
Roger MacBride
Roger Lea MacBride was an American lawyer, political figure, and television producer. He was the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in the 1976 election....
, the adopted grandson of Rose Wilder Lane, and executor of her estate, made a decision to publish The First Four Years without any editing, so it came directly from Laura's pencil to the written page. Because Laura never reworked the manuscript - and Rose never edited it (Rose edited all of her mother's earlier writings for publication), it is less polished in style than the books of the Little House series, but it is still unmistakably Laura's writing.
Summary
The First Four Years derives its title from a promise Laura made to Almanzo when they became engaged. Laura did not want to be a farm wife, but she consented to try farming for three years. At the end of that time, Laura and Almanzo mutually agreed to continue for one more year, a "year of grace", in Laura's words. The book ends at the close of that fourth year, on a rather optimistic note. In reality, the continually hot, dry DakotaDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
summers, and several other tragic events described in the book eventually drove them from their land, but they later founded a very successful fruit and dairy farm in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, where they lived comfortably until their respective deaths.