Skylark

The Sarah, Plain and Tall series by Patricia MacLachlan—which includes the novel Skylark—is set in the American prairie during the late 19th century, a period shaped by westward expansion and the implementation of the Homestead Act of 1862. This act allowed settlers to claim 160 acres of land if they lived on it and made improvements to it over five years. This expansion came at a great cost to Indigenous peoples. The land that the United States government parceled out to the white pioneers was originally home to Indigenous tribes, and this led to their forced displacement. While Skylark presents the prairie as an open and unclaimed space, it omits Indigenous perspectives, like many classic pioneer narratives.

Lured by the promise of free land and a chance to build their futures, many settlers flocked to the Midwest and the Great Plains in their covered wagons. These settlers, often referred to as pioneers or “sodbusters,” lived in sod houses or simple wooden homes, and they did physically demanding labor, including farming, to manage their lands. Many families, like the Wittings, faced immense challenges, like unpredictable weather, harsh environmental conditions, and isolation. 

These homesteaders found the prairie to be both beautiful and unforgiving. Settlers relied on farming for survival, but droughts, unpredictable weather, and prairie fires could quickly destroy their livelihoods. In Skylark, the Witting family faces a devastating drought that threatens their farm and forces Sarah and the children to leave for Maine, illustrating the harsh reality that these families endured. Without modern irrigation systems, farmers depended on natural rainfall, and when drought struck, crops withered, livestock suffered, and families often faced financial ruin.

Isolation was another challenge of prairie life. Unlike in the East, where towns and communities were well established, settlers on the Great Plains often lived miles apart from their neighbors. This distance could lead to loneliness, particularly for women like Sarah, who had left behind family and familiarity in other places. The novel captures this as it depicts Sarah’s struggles with loneliness, especially after her closest friend, Maggie, moves away from the prairie due to the drought. While Sarah is an independent and educated woman who makes her own choices—which is progressive for this era—many women on the frontier faced limited options. They were expected to take on various roles, from managing household duties to assisting with farm work. Sarah helps with farm chores, reflecting the adaptability of frontier women. 

Despite these hardships, settler families demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness as they made their homes on the prairie. MacLachlan’s Skylark captures both the beauty and struggles of life on the prairie, offering a historical reflection on survival, family, and the complex legacy of this transformative period in American history.