I just re-read this book, having been reminded of the main character by the character Blood in 'Lost Nation' by Jeffrey Lent. Upon rereading, the characters were not as similar as I thought sharing only the heading out into the wilderness and trying to create a life from the land.

The story of Isak is a simple tale of a man beginning with nothing, using the land to feed himself, selling his products for money to increase his use of the land, and working hard to always increase his ability to farm and provide, always thinking about the next project and always working with all of his strength.

Other characters are shown in contrast, touched by city ways, spoiled by the modern world, they cause trouble for themselves and get confused by modern life while Isak shows the steady true course, never wavering from his land and his work.

It's beautifully written, with simple clear language and a joy to read. Overall I really like this book, with some reservations:

I really can't figure out how to account for the character of Geissler though, a thinker, a speculator, an easily distracted and busy man whose motives are sometimes pure, sometimes motivated by greed, but who also always comes out well. He stands in sharp contrast to Isak, and his fortune does rise and fall at whim, but he is never depicted quite as negatively as others.

There is much made of this author's prejudices outside of his writing, and the one mention he makes of how the 'Yankee and the Jew' are destroying the world with their greedy ways is jarring and out of place.