This collection of articles written by Wilder for the Missouri Ruralist between 1911 and 1918 can be seen as her prelude to the characters and events she so luminously depicted in the Little House books. Allowing us a glimpse into the craft of an American master, these articles are divided into four thematic sections: Life on the Farm and in the Country; Making a Home; The Ways of the World; and A Woman's Role. Wilder deals with a wide variety of topics, including World War I, the San Francisco Exposition of 1915, and the movement for women's rights. A unique perspective on American life.