Thanks for that. It's a really interesting take. I didn't realise the prairies dried out. Puts my ongoing blasted climate change anxiety into perspective.
Yes they dried out for a ten year period in the 1930s. It coincided with the Great Depression. Interrelated. Prairies were over farmed. We have better understanding now, and better irrigation, at least for the next little while.
They used to say that the land was forever-- and that farmers should plant wheat, even on marginal dry land. 'Rain follows the plow,' they said.
One of the first jobs I had after retiring from the Navy was with a boss with the last name of Wilder. I think they said they were indirectly related.
Anyway, I remember having excerpts from some of her stories in our lit book in high school... something about a blizzard and getting home from school. My sister had all the books at one time, and I think maybe Jessica has read at least some of them. I've read them as well, and for what they are, they are very good reading.
Of course they are somewhat sanitized/idealized representations of life in those times.... great for younger readers. But often I wonder how much writers keep hidden from their readers? How much of what they put forth in their work reflects their personal views. Somewhat shocking but then not too surprising to learn of her extreme views on these matters.
Lastly, she was also known as a pioneer air traveler. Dave
Thank you for sharing this, I read and loved the LIW books as did my eldest daughter. I remember taking her to the American Museum in Monkton Combe before we left for France. I was inspired to think that we could make it work as mini pioneers in our French ruin, but of course reality was rather different. Interesting to hear that her reality was so different as well.
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Yes they dried out for a ten year period in the 1930s. It coincided with the Great Depression. Interrelated. Prairies were over farmed. We have better understanding now, and better irrigation, at least for the next little while.
They used to say that the land was forever-- and that farmers should plant wheat, even on marginal dry land. 'Rain follows the plow,' they said.
Hubris to make the hair on your neck stand up..,
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You know, that kind of 'neglecting a social system' is toally puzzling for us on the other side of the pond...
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Anyway, I remember having excerpts from some of her stories in our lit book in high school... something about a blizzard and getting home from school. My sister had all the books at one time, and I think maybe Jessica has read at least some of them. I've read them as well, and for what they are, they are very good reading.
Of course they are somewhat sanitized/idealized representations of life in those times.... great for younger readers. But often I wonder how much writers keep hidden from their readers? How much of what they put forth in their work reflects their personal views. Somewhat shocking but then not too surprising to learn of her extreme views on these matters.
Lastly, she was also known as a pioneer air traveler.
Dave
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