The Long Winter

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder's engaging story of THE LONG WINTER of the Little House series. The story of the long, hard winter of 1880-1881.

335 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1981

About the author

Laura Ingalls Wilder was an American author, journalist, and educator whose "Little House" series transformed the arduous reality of the American frontier into a foundational pillar of children's literature. Born in the "Big Woods" of Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Ingalls, Laura’s childhood was a nomadic journey through the heart of a shifting nation. Her family moved across Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakota Territory—often staying just ahead of legal evictions or chasing the promise of fertile soil. These years were marked by extreme hardship, including the "Hard Winter" of 1880–81 in De Smet, South Dakota, where the family survived near-starvation. Despite the struggle, these experiences provided the raw material for her eight-volume record of pioneer life, a series that has since been translated into over forty languages.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder is nearly a perfect read. It is written in gentle tones of the Ingalls family saga. In this story, an old Native American Indian tells the settlers that they will be facing a hard,bad Winter that will last 7 months. He knows this because the seasons cycle through easy and harsh winters with a super long intense winter every 21 years. Soon,his warnings prove true with Winter whistling in September. The story sees the world through the eyes of a child from the days of America's idealistic growth ripe with possibilities and independence. As the Winter takes hold, the strain of survival is at work. The make do and support of one another bumps up against the dreary,tiresome cold, darkness, limits that 2 or 3 day blizzards bring. The creatures who hibernate are the smartest survivors;)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audiobook last year and read it with my daughter this year. The winter felt extra long this read through! What an encouragement to hear of how so many persevered in such brutal storms... for so long.

[Dot Wardsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Long Winter almost fifty years ago, and rereading it was both nostalgic and deeply satisfying. It was one of my favorite books in the Little House series then and I’m happy to say it still holds a special place in my heart now. Becoming reacquainted with the Ingalls family was comforting, but this around, I especially appreciated seeing Almanzo Wilder more clearly. I remember getting to know him in Farmer Boy, but this story offers a deeper understanding of the man he was becoming…his quiet strength, his courage, and the determination he showed during an unimaginably harsh winter. Revisiting this book felt like returning to an old friend because it felt so familiar. It was a gift to return to this story and discover that it still feels like home ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most fascinating of all the Little House books. Gives great accounts of what the family had to deal with all the blizzards that came through. I felt bad for the town with barely any food or provisions. I do wonder how many people succumbed to the blizzard, but I know this is more of a children's book and it doesn't go into detail about that.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD ! ⚘️💛🪻

[Anna Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book! I have read the whole series and this is one of my favorite books in the series!