Wilder memoir to give gritty view of prairie life
By KEVIN BURBACH, Associated Press
Aug 16, 2014 12:33 PM CDT
This undated image provided by the South Dakota Historical Society Press shows Judy Thompson's illustration of the cover of "Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography". The original version of the autobiography, that Wilder likely wrote in the late 1920s, was written on tablet paper with lead pencil....   (Associated Press)

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Laura Ingalls Wilder penned one of the most beloved children's series of the 20th century, but her forthcoming autobiography will show devoted "Little House on the Prairie" fans a more realistic view of frontier living.

"Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography" is slated to be released by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press nationwide this fall.

Wilder wrote the autobiography before the "Little House" series but could never get it published. She used tales from the memoir as inspiration for her more family-oriented books.

Wilder's not-safe-for-children tales include stark scenes of domestic abuse, love triangles gone awry and a man who lit himself on fire while drunk.

Editor Pamela Smith Hill says the book will give fans the chance to see the real family behind Wilder's fictionalized accounts.

See 2 more photos