Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Stockholm : Bonnier, 1954
Description
Book Two of Moberg's Emigrant Novels opens in the summer of 1850 as the emigrants disembark in New York City. Their journey to a new home in Minnesota Territory takes them by riverboat, steam wagon, Great Lakes steamship, and oxcart to Chisago County. -- Publisher's description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaCurcio
In this second book in Vilhelm Moberg’s tetralogy about Karl Oskar Nilsson and his family and neighbors, the Swedish emigrants have reached the shores of North America—New York. Karl Oskar set out with his wife, Kristina and their three young children and his younger brother Robert. Robert has
Moberg evinces the fear, wonder, and, sometimes, frustration experienced by Karl Oskar and Kristina, but there is never a feeling of tension. From the beginning, the group is passed from good person to good person who help them make their way from New York to Minnesota where they hope to settle. A few harrowing experiences befall Karl Oskar and Robert. One of Danjel’s children dies. Karl Oskar runs out of money and does not know how his family will survive the harsh winter. Robert and Arvind set out for California to make their fortunes in the gold fields, and we do not know in this book what happens to them or whether they will be heard from again.
Ultimately, however, this tale is primarily one that leaves the reader feeling good about the emigrants, about “North America” and about the prospects for most of them for a bright future. In the true spirit of American freedom and equality, the Nilssons even come to understand that Ulrika became a prostitute as a result of bad things that happened to her from a very young age, and accept the Glad One as a friend. Enjoyable in the best sense of the word, but not a great literary experience.
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studied his book on North American and his book teaching him to speak English. He is the only one of the group who can speak or understand any English at all, and that is limited. Kristina’s uncle Danjel emigrated with his wife, who did not survive the crossing, their four children and Ulrika, “the Glad One”, and her daughter. The Glad One was the parish whore in Sweden to whom Danjel taught the Word of God; he then took her into his household along with her daughter. Danjel is also responsible for Arvind who was a farmhand in Sweden—Danjel paid his passage and Arvind will work for Danjel to pay him back. The book focuses on Karl Oskar and Kristina, but all of the emigrants are ready to find good land upon which to settle and make a good home.Moberg evinces the fear, wonder, and, sometimes, frustration experienced by Karl Oskar and Kristina, but there is never a feeling of tension. From the beginning, the group is passed from good person to good person who help them make their way from New York to Minnesota where they hope to settle. A few harrowing experiences befall Karl Oskar and Robert. One of Danjel’s children dies. Karl Oskar runs out of money and does not know how his family will survive the harsh winter. Robert and Arvind set out for California to make their fortunes in the gold fields, and we do not know in this book what happens to them or whether they will be heard from again.
Ultimately, however, this tale is primarily one that leaves the reader feeling good about the emigrants, about “North America” and about the prospects for most of them for a bright future. In the true spirit of American freedom and equality, the Nilssons even come to understand that Ulrika became a prostitute as a result of bad things that happened to her from a very young age, and accept the Glad One as a friend. Enjoyable in the best sense of the word, but not a great literary experience.
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LibraryThing member juniperSun
Read as a stand-alone novel.
The story of Karl and Kristina Nillson who emigrate from Sweden to America in 1850 along with a few neighbors and their families. The story begins with them on the ship, where they meet another countrywoman who has a contact address for her son in Minnesota. Lacking any
Some themes are the strong Christian/godliness beliefs, the importance of neighbors getting along and helping each other, cleanliness, feeling stupid or useless when they can't communicate in English.
The story of Karl and Kristina Nillson who emigrate from Sweden to America in 1850 along with a few neighbors and their families. The story begins with them on the ship, where they meet another countrywoman who has a contact address for her son in Minnesota. Lacking any
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other specific destination, they help her on her journey and settle there also. The story explores their feelings on arriving in New York, the trip by steamship, rail, and foot to northern MN. Arriving at the end of summer, they have no time to put in crops, barely enough time to build homes, and run out of money. Karl sets about to make furniture, shoes, and tools out of wood. Kristina comes to terms with her homesickness. Karl's younger brother Robert has a creative imagination, doesn't fit well with farming expectations. Ulrika, who was scorned as the local whore, shows herself as a caring and useful.Some themes are the strong Christian/godliness beliefs, the importance of neighbors getting along and helping each other, cleanliness, feeling stupid or useless when they can't communicate in English.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1952