Land of Promise, Land of Tears

by Jerry L. Twedt

They stare at us from old photographs; stiff, severe, unsmiling, dressed in black. They appear to be emotionless, colorless, devoid of passion. We think of them as occupying a black and white world frozen in time. But our perception is false. These people, whose genes we share, who struggled mightily to give us what we take for granted, did not live in a monochrome world and certainly were not devoid of passion. LAND OF PROMISE, LAND OF TEARS presents nine months in the lives of Ole and Helena Branjord and their children. Ole is a Norwegian immigrant; a kind, gentle man who questions his ability to provide for and protect his family. His wife, Helena, a native of Finland, was forced at the age of sixteen to find work in Norway as a serving girl and milkmaid. In addition to work, she found discrimination and sexual abuse. There, she made a powerful enemy who also has emigrated to America and lives just miles from her. Her name is Hanna and her desire is to destroy the Branjord family. The children are Oline, age eleven; Martin, age eight; and Berent, age four. Berent's goal in life is to wear pants. It was a custom in Norway for boys to wear dresses until the age of five. This custom, to the consternation of Berent, is being practiced in the Branjord home. The novel examines the joys, difficulties, trials and tragedies of living on the Iowa prairie in 1869,

456 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 2012

About the author

Jerry L. Twedt is an Iowa native who earned his Bachelor of Arts from Luther College, served in the United States Army, and earned his Master of Arts in Theatre from the University of Illinois. He worked as an award-winning television producer-director and published several plays. Now retired, Jerry lives in Florida.

Reviews

[Marvin]

This novel, based on a real family’s experience, is set in central Iowa in 1869. It conveys to readers many aspects of the Norwegian immigrant experience in Iowa just after the Civil War, including church disputes, the difficulties and joys of farming and family life, the adjustment of Civil War veterans, and the grief that accompanied the common experience of illness and death. It struck me as I read that the story shares much with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series of Little House on the Prairie books, complete with the adorable children, the father who’s a model of compassionate fatherhood (though this one is, appealingly, more insecure in his masculinity than Laura’s Pa); the burly, good-humored neighbor; the evil wife of a milquetoast husband (here a banker rather than a storekeeper) who looks down on her more common neighbors. One key difference here is that the mother is a much more assertive personality. The story itself is often moving, if a little sentimental for my taste. People interested in reading about immigrant pioneer life will enjoy and learn from this novel.

[Tara Wells]

This is the story of my great, great, great grandma (Helene Christina Rahto- Branjord )
and great, great great grandpa( Ole O Branjord) Berent m. Branjord/Branford (changed in 1901 out of conveince.) Bernet is my great grandmas father. He married Ellen Johanna ove-Branford and had Ellen Kathryn Branford-Rice my great grandmother who married Henry Carl Rice and had Barbra gail Rice, who married Basil Hugh Scalabrini and had Lisa kae Scalabrini who married Leonard wells and had me. I would love to read this at some point. Tara E. Wells

[Alicia]

I enjoyed reading about this family. Very sad ending though.

[Denise]

This book was a wonderful glimpse into the past of my chosen hometown and church community. Although it was sad in parts, that was just part of life for the immigrants and settlers in the 1850s and a necessary part of any book written about the era.

It was so interesting to read about a place where most of the communities still exist and that I have visited. Many of the families referenced are still common names in Story City today. I loved learning more of the history of St. Petri Lutheran Church than I would have otherwise known - it rather explains some of the attitudes we still seem to be dealing with today.

[Lee Parker]

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads

This was a very humbling story. It made you feel every emotion that the characters feel. I greatly enjoyed this account of immigrants, and all the hardships they went through. I cannot begin to fathom the losses of Helena and Ole, but the children were probably my favorite part, especially little Berent. He really captures your heart right from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys historical memoir type books.

[Cc April]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads Firstreads promotion in return for my honest review. I like to read books that make you feel things emotionally, whether it be laughter, happiness, pain or grief. I also like to read about history, things that make the reader appreciate how easy life is today compared to how it was in other time periods. It reminds you not to complain about petty things when you read about all the things Ole and Helena as representatives of early settlers had to go through. I did not expect the ending, so have your tissues ready.

[Paula Meyer]

Not especially well-written, but a poignant tale of what life was like for early settlers in north Iowa. Women's lives were indescribably challenging.

[Cole Bridges]

it was a very unique look at how life was on the prairie touching on subjects rarely discussed in those days

[Michelle Myers]

This book made me feel like I was right their living in the background! I could not put it down. I laughed and cried! I highly recommend this book!!

[Brenda Merson]

A great story about a family struggling to survive under trying circumstances. Brings to life how our ancestors must have lived and loved generations ago. This story kept my attention and I could hardly put it down.