Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Great Lives: Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pioneer girl Laura Ingalls Wilder nominated by superfan Samira Ahmed

Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder: author Tracy Chevalier joins Samira Ahmed

4 Extra Debut. Broadcaster Samira Ahmed chooses Little House on the Prairie author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. With Matthew Parris. From 2018.

In the summer of 2018, the name of Laura Ingalls Wilder was erased from a children's literary medal set up in her honour six decades ago. 

Readers of the 'Little House on the Prairie' series of books were widely perplexed, but the original American pioneer girl now finds herself at the centre of the culture wars in the US.

Nominating Laura is broadcaster and super-fan Samira Ahmed, who has been to Rocky Ridge Farm, now an historic museum in Missouri and Laura Ingalls Wilder's home. 

Joining Samira in studio is novelist Tracy Chevalier, president of the Laura Ingalls Wilder club at the age of eight. 

At the centre of the controversy - the depiction in these books of native Americans. “Her works reflect dated cultural attitudes toward indigenous people and people of colour that contradict modern acceptance, celebration, and understanding of diverse communities,” was the judgment of the ALSC.

Also featuring Laura Ingalls Wilder's biographer, Pamela Hill; plus the Commanche writer Paul Chaat Smith in an extract from The Invention of the USA.
 
"I feel worried," says Samira Ahmed, "that we've lost the ability to have nuance. I cannot read these books without feeling aspects of racism, but why shouldn't we be able to read them and still see the beauty in them."

Presented by Matthew Parris.  

Producer: Miles Warde

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Great Lives

Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder

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