West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915

In addition to Laura's detailed letters to Almanzo describing her adventure, this book includes over thirty photographs featuring Laura, Rose, the Pacific Ocean (ships, beachgoers, etc.), San Francisco, and many scenes of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition including an air show and night-lit festivities. Though in black and white, this pictorial insight into what was behind the letters is wonderful. The book also includes an introduction telling how and where the letters were found and a lovely description of San Francisco at the time of Laura's visit. The letters themselves beautifully showcase the art of letter writing: Along with Laura's vivid descriptions of the technological marvels of the expo, her words are full of charming details to make us smile such as the price of eggs, hat shopping, and her favorite foods of the expo. Laura's expertise in writing compositions, as portrayed in the original Little House books, is very much evident even in these personal letters. This book is a must have for Little House enthusiasts. Also recommended: On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894. J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles, and longtime Little House fan

Thank God this is still in print. Sure, lots of fans of the "Little House"series will find this a charming alternative. But Laura Ingalls Wilder wasalready an accomplished writer by this time, and her recorded impressionsduring a family visit to her daughter and son-in-law during the 1915 PanPacific International Exposition was a godsend for anyone who wants to knowof San Francisco history. The city was devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire; the PPIEwas a chance for the city's residents to show how quickly they couldrecover and rebuild, and they put their souls into it. The city fairlysparkled for the Exposition's visitors that summer. Wilder's letters hometo her husband were an accurate and very personable observance of the cityas it was. She described the big events as well as the telling littledetails that made San Francisco unique among American cities. The photosaccompanying her letters add to the authenticity. This is book not just a "niche gem" for Wilder fans, but also forthose who love San Francisco, and those who live history. Her record of avacation to the coast may've seemed to her like trivial familycorrespondence, but for this native son of Baghdad by the Bay, her letterswere a vivid portrait of a time that will not be seen again. This is one ofthe top ten historical recollections of a major, turn of the centuryAmerican city.

This book compiles a group of wonderful letters written from Laura to Almanzo in 1915 while she was staying with her daughter Rose (now married) in Los Angeles. The letters are long and detailed, since she rather missed him and was also trying to give him the full experience as much as possible. As a result, this book is a feast for both fans of LIW's work and people with an interest in the culture of the period.At this time, Laura is in her forties and has begun writing freelance for at least one magazine, but has not started on her famous Little House books yet. Her daughter is working entirely as a writer, particularly of serialised stories/biographies.Warning: Anyone reading the Rose series by Roger Lea MacBride should leave this book until after they finish, as there are spoilers.

This book is actually a series of letters that Laura wrote while visiting her daughter Rose. Rose Wilder Lane is a married journalist living in San Francisco. After years of begging her parents to visit her in this exciting, bustling city, Laura finally decides to go, but Almanzo must stay home and tend their farm at Rocky Ridge. These letters are sent to Almanzo, telling him of the World's Fair, riding the streetcars, and other exciting activities in the city. This book is really enlightening and educational. We get to see early San Francisco thru the eyes of our favorite pioneer. Children may not enjoy the letter form, but adults fans of the "Little House" series will enjoy connecting with Laura again.