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The Emigrants #1
The Emigrants
Considered one of Sweden's greatest 20th-century writers, Vilhelm Moberg created the characters Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson to portray the joys and tragedies of daily life for early Swedish immigrants in America. His consistently faithful depiction of these humble people's lives is a major strength of the Emigrant Novels.
Moberg's extensive research in the papers of Swedish emigrants in archival collections enabled him to incorporate many details of pioneer life. First published between 1949 and 1959 in Swedish, these four books were considered a single work by Moberg, who intended that they be read as documentary novels. These reprint editions contain introductions written by Roger McKnight of Gustavus Adolphus College, and they restore Moberg's bibliography not included in earlier English editions.
The first book in the series, The Emigrants introduces Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson, their three young children, and eleven others who make up a resolute party of Swedes fleeing the poverty, religious persecution, and social oppression of Småland in 1850.
The other books in the series— Unto a Good Land (I), Unto a Good Land (II), and The Last Letter Home (IV)—are also available from the Minnesota Historical Society Press.
Moberg's extensive research in the papers of Swedish emigrants in archival collections enabled him to incorporate many details of pioneer life. First published between 1949 and 1959 in Swedish, these four books were considered a single work by Moberg, who intended that they be read as documentary novels. These reprint editions contain introductions written by Roger McKnight of Gustavus Adolphus College, and they restore Moberg's bibliography not included in earlier English editions.
The first book in the series, The Emigrants introduces Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson, their three young children, and eleven others who make up a resolute party of Swedes fleeing the poverty, religious persecution, and social oppression of Småland in 1850.
The other books in the series— Unto a Good Land (I), Unto a Good Land (II), and The Last Letter Home (IV)—are also available from the Minnesota Historical Society Press.
366 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
640 people are currently reading
9374 people want to read
About the author
Vilhelm Moberg
177 books204 followersVilhelm Moberg was a Swedish journalist, author, playwright, historian, and debater best known for his Emigrant series of novels about Swedish emigrants to America. He also wrote other novels and plays and also participated in public debates about the Swedish monarchy, bureaucracy, and corruption. Among other works are Raskens (1927) and Ride This Night (1941), a historical novel of a 17th-century rebellion in Småland acknowledged for its subliminal but widely recognised criticism against the Hitler regime.
A noted public intellectual and debater in Sweden, he was noted for very vocal criticism of the Swedish monarchy (most notably after the Haijby affair), likening it with a servile government by divine mandate, and publicly supporting its replacement with a Swiss-style confederal republic. He spoke out aggressively against the policies of Nazi Germany, the Greek military junta, and the Soviet Union, and his works were among those destroyed in Nazi book burnings. In 1971, he scolded Prime Minister Olof Palme for refusing to offer the Nobel Prize in Literature to its recipient Alexander Solzhenitsyn – who was refused permission to attend the ceremony in Stockholm – through the Swedish embassy in Moscow.
A noted public intellectual and debater in Sweden, he was noted for very vocal criticism of the Swedish monarchy (most notably after the Haijby affair), likening it with a servile government by divine mandate, and publicly supporting its replacement with a Swiss-style confederal republic. He spoke out aggressively against the policies of Nazi Germany, the Greek military junta, and the Soviet Union, and his works were among those destroyed in Nazi book burnings. In 1971, he scolded Prime Minister Olof Palme for refusing to offer the Nobel Prize in Literature to its recipient Alexander Solzhenitsyn – who was refused permission to attend the ceremony in Stockholm – through the Swedish embassy in Moscow.
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April 4, 2017
History and literature in happy marriage!
I have grown increasingly impatient with historical fiction in recent years, but this opus magnum in four heavy volumes by Vilhelm Moberg is still one of my favourite reading experiences of all time. I must have read the books at least three or four times, and I can't even recall how many times I watched the well-made movie. I even went so far as to travel to Karlshamn and to stand in reverence and awe in front of the Emigrant Monument, featuring the two main characters of the series, Karl-Oscar and Kristina Nilsson. In accordance with their personalities, Karl-Oscar looks straight forward facing the ocean, while Kristina hesitantly turns around towards the Swedish country-side she will always call home, but never see again, once she boards the ship for America.
I love the musical as well, created by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the two Bs in ABBA. Hardly a day goes by without me asking my son to play the theme "Guldet blev till sand" on the piano while I cook dinner, telling the story of a young Swedish adventurer who returns completely broken to his farming brother Karl-Oscar in Minnesota after failing to succeed in the Californian gold rush.
This 4-volume novel encompasses the quintessence of Swedish emigration and integration into American society in the 19th century. The first volume is concerned with the reasons they left the poverty and brutal social conditions in Sweden. The group which the reader follows is a mixed bag: from farmers who give up working themselves to exhaustion only to see their children starve, to adventurous youths who refuse to let their masters beat them into disability, to single-mum involuntary prostitutes who suffer from rigid moral codes and hypocrisy, to religious dreamers who collide with the harsh rules of the intolerant Swedish state church.
They pack their chests, and bring their most cherished valuables and customs, then face the ocean, and land on American soil after a dramatic sea journey. What they experience there is the typical immigrant story: the first generation struggles to settle, and pines for the "old country", while trying to keep up the traditions they once considered absolute truth and indispensable for life quality.
They register a change in their children, who slowly but steadily adopt a different way of life, and a different language. The once heavy Swedish rural dialect is lost, and English words appear instead, an early version of the now omnipresent Swenglish.
The last volume of the series, called "Sista brevet till Sverige", or "The last letter to Sweden", closes the chapter of their Swedish heritage and completes the transformation into Americans: full of Anglicisms, and of reports on the adventures of a disconnected offspring, the letter from old Karl-Oscar to his sister in the Swedish village "at home" symbolises closure. After his death, the natural links to Sweden are broken, and what remains is an identification with the original country on the other side of the ocean that has almost mythical aspects, but is not founded on knowledge anymore.
It strikes me as incredibly sad that the descendants of Karl-Oscar and Kristina seem to have forgotten how fortunate they were to be given a chance in America, and how they prospered as a result. They fled the religious and social repression of Sweden, and found an open society.
That is history. And literature. Highly recommended!
I have grown increasingly impatient with historical fiction in recent years, but this opus magnum in four heavy volumes by Vilhelm Moberg is still one of my favourite reading experiences of all time. I must have read the books at least three or four times, and I can't even recall how many times I watched the well-made movie. I even went so far as to travel to Karlshamn and to stand in reverence and awe in front of the Emigrant Monument, featuring the two main characters of the series, Karl-Oscar and Kristina Nilsson. In accordance with their personalities, Karl-Oscar looks straight forward facing the ocean, while Kristina hesitantly turns around towards the Swedish country-side she will always call home, but never see again, once she boards the ship for America.
I love the musical as well, created by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the two Bs in ABBA. Hardly a day goes by without me asking my son to play the theme "Guldet blev till sand" on the piano while I cook dinner, telling the story of a young Swedish adventurer who returns completely broken to his farming brother Karl-Oscar in Minnesota after failing to succeed in the Californian gold rush.
This 4-volume novel encompasses the quintessence of Swedish emigration and integration into American society in the 19th century. The first volume is concerned with the reasons they left the poverty and brutal social conditions in Sweden. The group which the reader follows is a mixed bag: from farmers who give up working themselves to exhaustion only to see their children starve, to adventurous youths who refuse to let their masters beat them into disability, to single-mum involuntary prostitutes who suffer from rigid moral codes and hypocrisy, to religious dreamers who collide with the harsh rules of the intolerant Swedish state church.
They pack their chests, and bring their most cherished valuables and customs, then face the ocean, and land on American soil after a dramatic sea journey. What they experience there is the typical immigrant story: the first generation struggles to settle, and pines for the "old country", while trying to keep up the traditions they once considered absolute truth and indispensable for life quality.
They register a change in their children, who slowly but steadily adopt a different way of life, and a different language. The once heavy Swedish rural dialect is lost, and English words appear instead, an early version of the now omnipresent Swenglish.
The last volume of the series, called "Sista brevet till Sverige", or "The last letter to Sweden", closes the chapter of their Swedish heritage and completes the transformation into Americans: full of Anglicisms, and of reports on the adventures of a disconnected offspring, the letter from old Karl-Oscar to his sister in the Swedish village "at home" symbolises closure. After his death, the natural links to Sweden are broken, and what remains is an identification with the original country on the other side of the ocean that has almost mythical aspects, but is not founded on knowledge anymore.
It strikes me as incredibly sad that the descendants of Karl-Oscar and Kristina seem to have forgotten how fortunate they were to be given a chance in America, and how they prospered as a result. They fled the religious and social repression of Sweden, and found an open society.
That is history. And literature. Highly recommended!
September 2, 2015
عندما أكتب عن رواية ما فإنني أقرر إنني ساحفظها في الذاكرة ، ولذلك فإن الروايات الجميلة هي التي تجرني للقلم لكثرة ما أحب الحديث عنها والحقيقة إنني أود أن أدون بعض ما سرقني في هذه الرواية الوجودية ، قبل أن تذهب به الذاكرة إلى مكان لا تستعاد منه الأشياء البديعة ..
في هذه الرواية يحكي موبيرغ ملحمة هجرة السويديين إلى أمريكا أرض كل الإحتمالات بحثا عن مأوى ، لأسباب كثيرة منها الفقر والصقيع الذي جمد الحياة ، والأرض الصخرية التي تقف حائلا بين المزارع والزراعة ، عن حياة مليئة بالكفاح والكدح الشاق مقابل الضئيل مما تقدمه الأرض ، كان على كارل وكريستنا حال بقية المزارعين مواجهة الطبيعة وتسوية الأرض وصنع مستقبل للأجيال القادمة إلا أن الجهود التي تبذل كانت تضيع في الهواء لهم كما إن وفاة ابنتهم بسبب المجاعة التي ضربت السويد سرّع من اختيار القرار بالرحيل ..
لم يقف موبيرغ عند هذا السبب الذي يبدو رئيسيا في رحيل المهاجرين إنما تعرض لأسباب أخرى كما هي في حالة روبرت ورغبته في الحرية والمغامرة والإكتشاف وعيش حياة جديدة مختلفة ، وجماعة ستفينسون التي قررت الرحيل لأسباب دينية ومحلية وسياسية ناهيك عن سيطرة الكنيسة التي تمنعهم من ممارسة شعائرهم بحرية ، أرفيد ورغبته في الفرار من المجتمع الذي يضطهده وغيرها من أسباب كل ذلك جمع من هؤلاء الأشجاص المتنافرون وجعلهم أسرة واحدة همها أن تعيش .. في الرواية يحكي موبيرغ قصة الرحيل في محيط شاهق وتجربة الإبحار حيث لم تكن قد اخترعت السفن البخارية وكان عليهم الحياة لأكثر من شهرين على ظهر سفينة مكتضة بمئات البشر، ,والتعرض لمختلف أنواع الأمراض التي تصيب مرتادي البحر يحدوهم أمل واحد وهو ملامسة الأرض الجديدة الأرض الموعودة الأرض الحلم ..
الشخصيات كتبت بشكل جميل للغاية إنهم لا يشبهون بعضهم وهذا يبرز براعة الكاتب حقيقة فهناك شخصية كارل المحب لأسرته على الرغم من إنه الرجل الغارق في الصمت صاحب العمل الدؤوب ولعل مشهد كريستنا وهي تموت ببطء من مرض الأسقربوط وموقف كارل تجاهها يجعل كل أنثى تتمنى أن يفعل كارل ما فعله لأجل كريستنا ، روبرت كانت شخصية تناسب سنها تماما مغامر لن يستكين للعبودية يحلم ويتمنى ويسعى لأجل أحلامه شخصية مهمة ساهمت في تطور أحداث السرد وساقته إلى حيث يريد الكاتب مزرعة كارل ، شخصية كريستينا كزوجة مطيعة لها فورات غضبها وتقريعها لزوجها بين وقت وآخر وأولريكا العاهرة الفاضلة ، وزوجة قريبة كريستينا الخانغة لرجل دين والتي من خلالها استطاع القارىء أن يتعرف عن طبيعة الفكر الذي يدعو له زوجها .. الشخصية الوحيدة التي أشعر أن موبيرغ لم يعطها حقها على السفينة كانت شخصية آرفيد والذي لا أشك أن موبيرغ نسيه تماما !
هناك سياق أخلاقي في الرواية يتضح في العلاقة الجميلة بين كريستنا وكارل واضطهاد المجتمع لآرفيد ، وعلاقة أرباب العمل بعامل الأرض وفي العلاقات التي تحدث بين المسافرين في رحلة عابرة مهما اختلفوا عن بعضهم .. وهناك سباق محموم مع القذارات والأمراض والموت ، هناك مشاهد غنائية حقيقة خاصة حين ابتعدت السفينة عن البلد الأم وأصبحت الكل ينظر إليها من بعيد فلم تعد السويد هي ذلك البلد الذي لفظهم بقوة بل هو الوطن والحنين ..كما هو المشهد الغنائي الآخر والذي يبدو كرحمة من السماء ، حين حط طائر غريب على السفينة لكي يكون رمزا للحياة والأمل إن مثل هذه المشاهد الغنية بالصورة والصوت هي ما أعطى هذه الرواية زخما وثراءا وأبعاد فنية تجعلها أكثر بكثير من كونها مجرد رواية وثائقية ..
هذا الكتاب موت وحياة ..
في هذه الرواية يحكي موبيرغ ملحمة هجرة السويديين إلى أمريكا أرض كل الإحتمالات بحثا عن مأوى ، لأسباب كثيرة منها الفقر والصقيع الذي جمد الحياة ، والأرض الصخرية التي تقف حائلا بين المزارع والزراعة ، عن حياة مليئة بالكفاح والكدح الشاق مقابل الضئيل مما تقدمه الأرض ، كان على كارل وكريستنا حال بقية المزارعين مواجهة الطبيعة وتسوية الأرض وصنع مستقبل للأجيال القادمة إلا أن الجهود التي تبذل كانت تضيع في الهواء لهم كما إن وفاة ابنتهم بسبب المجاعة التي ضربت السويد سرّع من اختيار القرار بالرحيل ..
لم يقف موبيرغ عند هذا السبب الذي يبدو رئيسيا في رحيل المهاجرين إنما تعرض لأسباب أخرى كما هي في حالة روبرت ورغبته في الحرية والمغامرة والإكتشاف وعيش حياة جديدة مختلفة ، وجماعة ستفينسون التي قررت الرحيل لأسباب دينية ومحلية وسياسية ناهيك عن سيطرة الكنيسة التي تمنعهم من ممارسة شعائرهم بحرية ، أرفيد ورغبته في الفرار من المجتمع الذي يضطهده وغيرها من أسباب كل ذلك جمع من هؤلاء الأشجاص المتنافرون وجعلهم أسرة واحدة همها أن تعيش .. في الرواية يحكي موبيرغ قصة الرحيل في محيط شاهق وتجربة الإبحار حيث لم تكن قد اخترعت السفن البخارية وكان عليهم الحياة لأكثر من شهرين على ظهر سفينة مكتضة بمئات البشر، ,والتعرض لمختلف أنواع الأمراض التي تصيب مرتادي البحر يحدوهم أمل واحد وهو ملامسة الأرض الجديدة الأرض الموعودة الأرض الحلم ..
الشخصيات كتبت بشكل جميل للغاية إنهم لا يشبهون بعضهم وهذا يبرز براعة الكاتب حقيقة فهناك شخصية كارل المحب لأسرته على الرغم من إنه الرجل الغارق في الصمت صاحب العمل الدؤوب ولعل مشهد كريستنا وهي تموت ببطء من مرض الأسقربوط وموقف كارل تجاهها يجعل كل أنثى تتمنى أن يفعل كارل ما فعله لأجل كريستنا ، روبرت كانت شخصية تناسب سنها تماما مغامر لن يستكين للعبودية يحلم ويتمنى ويسعى لأجل أحلامه شخصية مهمة ساهمت في تطور أحداث السرد وساقته إلى حيث يريد الكاتب مزرعة كارل ، شخصية كريستينا كزوجة مطيعة لها فورات غضبها وتقريعها لزوجها بين وقت وآخر وأولريكا العاهرة الفاضلة ، وزوجة قريبة كريستينا الخانغة لرجل دين والتي من خلالها استطاع القارىء أن يتعرف عن طبيعة الفكر الذي يدعو له زوجها .. الشخصية الوحيدة التي أشعر أن موبيرغ لم يعطها حقها على السفينة كانت شخصية آرفيد والذي لا أشك أن موبيرغ نسيه تماما !
هناك سياق أخلاقي في الرواية يتضح في العلاقة الجميلة بين كريستنا وكارل واضطهاد المجتمع لآرفيد ، وعلاقة أرباب العمل بعامل الأرض وفي العلاقات التي تحدث بين المسافرين في رحلة عابرة مهما اختلفوا عن بعضهم .. وهناك سباق محموم مع القذارات والأمراض والموت ، هناك مشاهد غنائية حقيقة خاصة حين ابتعدت السفينة عن البلد الأم وأصبحت الكل ينظر إليها من بعيد فلم تعد السويد هي ذلك البلد الذي لفظهم بقوة بل هو الوطن والحنين ..كما هو المشهد الغنائي الآخر والذي يبدو كرحمة من السماء ، حين حط طائر غريب على السفينة لكي يكون رمزا للحياة والأمل إن مثل هذه المشاهد الغنية بالصورة والصوت هي ما أعطى هذه الرواية زخما وثراءا وأبعاد فنية تجعلها أكثر بكثير من كونها مجرد رواية وثائقية ..
هذا الكتاب موت وحياة ..
May 15, 2019
I love reading pioneer novels; books about hardy people going to a new land, building a home, making a living from the land with hard work and determination. In some cases, when emigrating to the new world from the old, it also meant leaving relatives and friends behind forever, learning a new language and new customs, and coping with unforseen circumstances with no help at all, just your own intelligence and ability to work.
This book gives us the story of Karl Oscar and his wife Kristina from the very beginning of their journey in 1850. We learn why they wanted to leave Sweden because of diminishing returns on their farm and no way to rise above it no matter how hard they worked. Others wanted to leave behind servitude, religious persecution, and in one case, a nagging wife. 16 people, including 7 children, set sail on an emigrant ship bound for New York harbor.
The second half of the book is about the sea voyage through the North Sea, the English Channel, and across the Atlantic Ocean. This was so graphic and real (seasickness, scurvy, death, bad food, boredom and fear, just to name a few) that I may never set foot on a boat again. The end of volume one sets these brave people once again on land, and left me in tears because of the hope in their hearts. North America! Where anything was possible! Where life would be better!
"But however shabby and weak they seemed, however wretched and poor they were--North America admitted them". That sentence filled me with pride, then sadness, as it doesn't seem we are that country any longer.
Volume Two "Unto a Good Land" follows our little group on their search for a place to settle, and I can't wait to get to it.
This book gives us the story of Karl Oscar and his wife Kristina from the very beginning of their journey in 1850. We learn why they wanted to leave Sweden because of diminishing returns on their farm and no way to rise above it no matter how hard they worked. Others wanted to leave behind servitude, religious persecution, and in one case, a nagging wife. 16 people, including 7 children, set sail on an emigrant ship bound for New York harbor.
The second half of the book is about the sea voyage through the North Sea, the English Channel, and across the Atlantic Ocean. This was so graphic and real (seasickness, scurvy, death, bad food, boredom and fear, just to name a few) that I may never set foot on a boat again. The end of volume one sets these brave people once again on land, and left me in tears because of the hope in their hearts. North America! Where anything was possible! Where life would be better!
"But however shabby and weak they seemed, however wretched and poor they were--North America admitted them". That sentence filled me with pride, then sadness, as it doesn't seem we are that country any longer.
Volume Two "Unto a Good Land" follows our little group on their search for a place to settle, and I can't wait to get to it.
December 9, 2019
A simple, bucolic look at a typical immigration of European settlers to the New World. In fact, I enjoyed all four books in this series! Thirty years ago, I visited the area in Sweden where Vilhelm Moberg situated this fictitious family, and I found the museum there to be quite captivating! My mom recommended that I read these books over 40 years ago, and she was quite devastated when she loaned her set of books to a friend, who then sold them at a garage sale! Needless to say, my mom was thrilled when I purchased a replacement set for her birthday.
September 17, 2018
رحلة ملحمية، مؤثرة وعميقة.. تضعك في شوق للجزء الثاني. على أمل أن يصدر قريبًا.
October 2, 2020
"About the middle of the nineteenth century … the order of unchangeableness [in Sweden] was shaken to its very foundations…. [To] a new generation, able to read, came the printed word with tales of a land far away, a land which emerged from the mists of the saga and took on the clearing, tempting aspects of reality.
"The new land had soil without tillers and called for tillers without soil. It opened invitingly for those who longed for a freedom denied them at home. The urge to emigrate stirred in the landless, in the debt-bound, the suppressed and the discontented…. Others wanted to escape entanglements and dilemmas in the old country. They emigrated, not to something but from something. Many, and widely different, were the answers to the question: Why?" – Vilhelm Moberg, Introduction to The Emigrants
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THE EMIGRANTS
The Emigrants, the first of Moberg’s tetralogy about Swedish emigration to the United States during the mid-nineteenth century, is the story of a group of people from the province of Smaland who made the decision to emigrate. Moberg intended his characters to serve as symbolic representations of the various reasons that compelled Swedes to pull up stakes and leave their homeland.
The first half of the book is a recounting of the lives of the main characters and the circumstances that led each of them to take the drastic step of forsaking their native country and sailing to a new land.
Karl Oscar Nilsson had inherited a small parcel of land, but the soil was thin and rocky and he had to heavily mortgage the farm in order to survive bad crop years. He was a hard worker but that has never been a guarantee of prosperity. And in his case no matter how hard he and his wife Kristina labored, the family continuously faced hard times and even famine.
Karl Oskar wanted to live in a land where the sweat of his brow would reap some economic benefit. Emigration to America, he believed, would allow him to provide a better life for his wife and their three small children.
Robert Nilsson, Karl Oscar’s younger brother, as the second son of a farmer, had no prospects of inheriting any of the small holdings of his family. Emigration represented his chance to escape his life of drudgery as an indentured farmhand.
Danjel Andreasson, Kristina’s maternal uncle, had been banished from Sweden due to his religious beliefs. The powerful state Lutheran church was intolerant of any and all dissent in religious matters -- and Danyel was a dissenter.
He viewed America as a place where he and his family would have the freedom to worship as they pleased.
Jonas Petter Albrektsson had an altogether different reason for wanting to leave Sweden. He felt trapped in an unhappy marriage at a time when divorce simply was not an option.
Ulrika of Vastergohl was a former prostitute who was looking to escape her past and to start a new life along with her teen-aged daughter, Elin.
THE VOYAGE TO AMERICA
The second half of the book details the trials and tribulations of the horrendous ten week voyage from the southern tip of Sweden to New York, which was finally reached in the midsummer of 1850. During the voyage some of the emigrants suffered from sea sickness so severe that it made them wish they could die and, even worse, the disease of scurvy did cause a number of deaths.
VILHELM MOBERG (1898-1973)
Vilhelm Moberg was a journalist, author, playwright, and historian who identified with the dispossessed and the impoverished and he wrote about their traditions, their customs, and their struggles to survive another day. He shared the grievances of his main characters in The Emigrants and he sympathized with their wishes to seek a better life in a new land.
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"'Hot-tempered, easily moved, and changeable' was how the Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg once described himself. He might have added that in the first half of the twentieth century he was both the most widely admired and the most deeply distrusted of all Swedish authors. A man of humble origins but immense ambition and strong opinions, Moberg spent his entire literary life championing the rights of common people. This tendency, combined with his volatile temperament, earned Moberg a deep, abiding respect from critics, politicians, and religious leaders.” – Roger McKnight, Gustavus Adolphus College
Thanks, Diane. I am looking forward to reading the other three books in the series.
"The new land had soil without tillers and called for tillers without soil. It opened invitingly for those who longed for a freedom denied them at home. The urge to emigrate stirred in the landless, in the debt-bound, the suppressed and the discontented…. Others wanted to escape entanglements and dilemmas in the old country. They emigrated, not to something but from something. Many, and widely different, were the answers to the question: Why?" – Vilhelm Moberg, Introduction to The Emigrants
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THE EMIGRANTS
The Emigrants, the first of Moberg’s tetralogy about Swedish emigration to the United States during the mid-nineteenth century, is the story of a group of people from the province of Smaland who made the decision to emigrate. Moberg intended his characters to serve as symbolic representations of the various reasons that compelled Swedes to pull up stakes and leave their homeland.
The first half of the book is a recounting of the lives of the main characters and the circumstances that led each of them to take the drastic step of forsaking their native country and sailing to a new land.
Karl Oscar Nilsson had inherited a small parcel of land, but the soil was thin and rocky and he had to heavily mortgage the farm in order to survive bad crop years. He was a hard worker but that has never been a guarantee of prosperity. And in his case no matter how hard he and his wife Kristina labored, the family continuously faced hard times and even famine.
Karl Oskar wanted to live in a land where the sweat of his brow would reap some economic benefit. Emigration to America, he believed, would allow him to provide a better life for his wife and their three small children.
Robert Nilsson, Karl Oscar’s younger brother, as the second son of a farmer, had no prospects of inheriting any of the small holdings of his family. Emigration represented his chance to escape his life of drudgery as an indentured farmhand.
Danjel Andreasson, Kristina’s maternal uncle, had been banished from Sweden due to his religious beliefs. The powerful state Lutheran church was intolerant of any and all dissent in religious matters -- and Danyel was a dissenter.
He viewed America as a place where he and his family would have the freedom to worship as they pleased.
Jonas Petter Albrektsson had an altogether different reason for wanting to leave Sweden. He felt trapped in an unhappy marriage at a time when divorce simply was not an option.
Ulrika of Vastergohl was a former prostitute who was looking to escape her past and to start a new life along with her teen-aged daughter, Elin.
THE VOYAGE TO AMERICA
The second half of the book details the trials and tribulations of the horrendous ten week voyage from the southern tip of Sweden to New York, which was finally reached in the midsummer of 1850. During the voyage some of the emigrants suffered from sea sickness so severe that it made them wish they could die and, even worse, the disease of scurvy did cause a number of deaths.
VILHELM MOBERG (1898-1973)
Vilhelm Moberg was a journalist, author, playwright, and historian who identified with the dispossessed and the impoverished and he wrote about their traditions, their customs, and their struggles to survive another day. He shared the grievances of his main characters in The Emigrants and he sympathized with their wishes to seek a better life in a new land.
-----------------------------------------------
"'Hot-tempered, easily moved, and changeable' was how the Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg once described himself. He might have added that in the first half of the twentieth century he was both the most widely admired and the most deeply distrusted of all Swedish authors. A man of humble origins but immense ambition and strong opinions, Moberg spent his entire literary life championing the rights of common people. This tendency, combined with his volatile temperament, earned Moberg a deep, abiding respect from critics, politicians, and religious leaders.” – Roger McKnight, Gustavus Adolphus College
Thanks, Diane. I am looking forward to reading the other three books in the series.
December 30, 2010
I came to these stories when, recovering from 'flu, I happened upon the film of this book (in Swedish with subtitles) on the television. I come from Swedish-American stock, and I was astounded at how closely the story in the film mirrored the experience of my own ancestors, who left Sweden at about the same time and arrived in the same place in Minnesota territory about the same time. I couldn't find the books, but a cousin had an ancient, cheap and tacky paperback edition from the 50s or 60s she gave me (the sort of book your teacher would have snatched away on the grounds that paperbacks were junk not fit for children). It was later that I purchased this edition, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. I've now re-read this many times. Of course, it appeals at least in part because its story is part of MY story, but Moberg was nothing if not a thorough researcher, so what he wrote in this and the subsequent three novels rings very true. In Lindstrom, Minnesota you can see a statue of Karl Oscar and Kristina (matching statue in Karlshamn, Sweden) and visit the Nilsson/Nelson house, complete with astrakhan apple tree (a pioneer house built at about the same time and moved to a park).
What this book is very good at is examining the question of "why go?" -- push factors and pull factors, the sheer effort to wrest a new life from wilderness, the failures of some to prosper, the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and new language. Thus Kristina always looks back, while Karl Oscar looks forward.
What this book is very good at is examining the question of "why go?" -- push factors and pull factors, the sheer effort to wrest a new life from wilderness, the failures of some to prosper, the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and new language. Thus Kristina always looks back, while Karl Oscar looks forward.
July 18, 2013
I picked this book up by chance for something to read while visiting my poor mom who had a stroke and was moved to a nursing home. A 2nd generation Swedish American who spoke only Swedish as a child, I cannot help but marvel at what she and her parents and grandparents went through. The harsh economic conditions in Sweden in the 1850's, the grueling journey in a tiny boat, the serious misinformation these brave people had. Well, it's a marvel we're all here. Hang in there, mom, 93 years old.
July 1, 2013
اقتنيت الرواية من معرض الرياض الأخير للكتاب, بتوصية من الناشرة السويدية منى هيننج صاحبة دار المنى للنشر. قبل أن أخوض في مراجعتي للرواية ينبغي ان أذكر أن ولائي لهذه الدار ومطبوعاتها بدأ منذ ثلاثة أعوام, وفي كل سنة أصبحت زيارة هذا الجناح "فرض كفاية". أرى في السيدة منى هيننج كل ما قرأت وسمعت وشاهدت عن الناشر المثقف, فهي لا تكتفي بتوصية كتاب فقط بل تسألك ماذا قرأت سابقاً, وتحدثك بحب وعينيها تلمع عن رواية صدرت حديثاً وعن مؤلفها وأصدائها. ثم ظروف ترجمتها,يكفيني منها أن تذكر لي بأن هذه الرواية ستلتهمني قبل أن ألتهمها, هي تلك النوع من المثقفات التي تغريك بعصرونية وشاي مغربي وكتاب.
http://www.alsharq.net.sa/2012/03/12/...
أعود للمهاجرين, الطبعة العربية صدرت مؤخراً عن ترجمة علاء الدين أبو زينة. أما "رباعية المهاجرون" الطبعة الأصلية نشرت عام 1949 للروائي فيلهلم موبيرغ, ترجم منها فقط الجزء الأول. وتحكي قصة الجيل الأول من المهاجرين السويديين لأمريكا صيف عام 1850م. وتغوص في الظروف الإقتصادية -المحرض الأول على الهجرة- والدينية والاجتماعية بشكل عام التي دفعت مجموعة من فلاحي مقاطعة سمولاند إلى البحث عن وطن آخر.
كانت أمريكا في ذلك الوقت لا تزال العالم الجديد, وكل ما وصلهم عنها من أخبار هي من سبيل مما قرأ وسمع فقط. حيث كان الشائع أن يتم نفي المجرمين كوسيلة عقاب- ياللسخرية- إلى ذلك المنفى, إلى القارة الجديدة.
بدأ موبيرغ بوصف مفصل لظروف الفلاحين ساكني أبرشية ليودر, من حيث انقسام المجتمع إلى طبقتين -نبيلة وخدم- والمعاناة التي يتكبدها المزارعون من حيث عيشهم تحت رحمة "طقس الرب" الذي يجلب عليهم سنين سمينة وأخرى عجفاء. كان التسلسل الهرمي صارماً: أكثر الرجال أهمية في ليودر هو العمدة والذي كان باعتباره قسيساً يمثل الله القدير, يليه في النفوذ الشريف والممثل لصاحب الجلالة الدنيوية -ملك السويد والنرويج-.
اختار موبيرغ ثلاث عائلات, غاص في أعماقهم بشكل محكم وتنقل بين شخوص الرواية بسلاسة, كتب كثيراً عن الحديث الداخلي وهو أكثر ما لامسني في روايته. بدءً من السخط على الظروف المعيشية القاسية من جفاف ويبس الأرض إلى الحكايا التي غمرتهم عن "أرض بعيدة, أرض نجمت من سديم الملاحم, مكتسية بعناصر الواقع الواضحة والغواية. كانت الأرض الجديدة تراباً بلا فلاحين, ينادي فلاحين بلا تراب".
"خفقت رغبةالهجرة في قلوب من لا أرض لهم,في صدور المثقلين بالديون, في عقول المضطهدين والساخطين. وثمة آخرون لم يروا امتياز خاص أو ثروة في الأرض الجديدة, لكنهم أرادوا الهروب من التشابكات والمعضلات المقيمة في البلد القديم. وهاجروا لا إلى شيء, وإنما من شيء"
هذه الرواية عبارة عن تفاصيل.. عن 78 مهاجراً كانوا المغامرين, الشجعان الأوائل الذي تلاهم بعدها حوالي مليون مهاجر سويدي
http://www.alsharq.net.sa/2012/03/12/...
أعود للمهاجرين, الطبعة العربية صدرت مؤخراً عن ترجمة علاء الدين أبو زينة. أما "رباعية المهاجرون" الطبعة الأصلية نشرت عام 1949 للروائي فيلهلم موبيرغ, ترجم منها فقط الجزء الأول. وتحكي قصة الجيل الأول من المهاجرين السويديين لأمريكا صيف عام 1850م. وتغوص في الظروف الإقتصادية -المحرض الأول على الهجرة- والدينية والاجتماعية بشكل عام التي دفعت مجموعة من فلاحي مقاطعة سمولاند إلى البحث عن وطن آخر.
كانت أمريكا في ذلك الوقت لا تزال العالم الجديد, وكل ما وصلهم عنها من أخبار هي من سبيل مما قرأ وسمع فقط. حيث كان الشائع أن يتم نفي المجرمين كوسيلة عقاب- ياللسخرية- إلى ذلك المنفى, إلى القارة الجديدة.
بدأ موبيرغ بوصف مفصل لظروف الفلاحين ساكني أبرشية ليودر, من حيث انقسام المجتمع إلى طبقتين -نبيلة وخدم- والمعاناة التي يتكبدها المزارعون من حيث عيشهم تحت رحمة "طقس الرب" الذي يجلب عليهم سنين سمينة وأخرى عجفاء. كان التسلسل الهرمي صارماً: أكثر الرجال أهمية في ليودر هو العمدة والذي كان باعتباره قسيساً يمثل الله القدير, يليه في النفوذ الشريف والممثل لصاحب الجلالة الدنيوية -ملك السويد والنرويج-.
اختار موبيرغ ثلاث عائلات, غاص في أعماقهم بشكل محكم وتنقل بين شخوص الرواية بسلاسة, كتب كثيراً عن الحديث الداخلي وهو أكثر ما لامسني في روايته. بدءً من السخط على الظروف المعيشية القاسية من جفاف ويبس الأرض إلى الحكايا التي غمرتهم عن "أرض بعيدة, أرض نجمت من سديم الملاحم, مكتسية بعناصر الواقع الواضحة والغواية. كانت الأرض الجديدة تراباً بلا فلاحين, ينادي فلاحين بلا تراب".
"خفقت رغبةالهجرة في قلوب من لا أرض لهم,في صدور المثقلين بالديون, في عقول المضطهدين والساخطين. وثمة آخرون لم يروا امتياز خاص أو ثروة في الأرض الجديدة, لكنهم أرادوا الهروب من التشابكات والمعضلات المقيمة في البلد القديم. وهاجروا لا إلى شيء, وإنما من شيء"
هذه الرواية عبارة عن تفاصيل.. عن 78 مهاجراً كانوا المغامرين, الشجعان الأوائل الذي تلاهم بعدها حوالي مليون مهاجر سويدي
June 29, 2020
Jag trodde att detta skulle vara en typisk bok-klassiker som man trycker sig igenom bara för att ha läst den men det här är allt annat än det.
Moberg skriver fantastiskt! Allting som berättas om knyts ihop och berättelsen släpper en aldrig.
Moberg skriver fantastiskt! Allting som berättas om knyts ihop och berättelsen släpper en aldrig.
November 8, 2018
Det är något med den svenska utvandringen till Amerika i mitten och slutet av 1800-talet som fascinerar mig något helt otroligt mycket. Faktumet att människorna som emigrerade inte visste nånting om den värld som de begav sig till (mer än vad de hade läst i broschyrer) tycker jag är så svindlande att jag har lite svårt att greppa den. De lämnade en värld av seder, en värld där marken som de gick på var samma mark som deras föräldrar och föräldrars föräldrar hade gått på, en värld där man var en del av byn och för det mesta inte tog sig längre än till grannbyn. Tänk att gå från ett såpass inrutat liv till att för första gången i sitt liv se havet - och då även ge sig ut på det i flera månader för att nå en okänd plats. Helt ofattbart. Plötsligt blir globaliseringen vi genomgått fram till nu så påtaglig.
Med andra ord var det väl inte helt oväntat att jag skulle gilla Utvandrarna. Jag tror jag var lite rädd att den skulle kännas dammig och svårsmält, men Moberg skrev så fantastiskt fint. Språket känns levande, inte alls svårförståeligt!
Historien kretsar kring en grupp människor från Småland som ger sig ut på oceanen med Briggen Charlotta för att nå lyckan i det nya landet. Man får följa dem alla, även om det är Karl-Oskar och Kristina som står i centrum. De bestämmer sig för att ge sig av då fattigdomen och svälten tar ifrån dem ett av deras barn. De andra passagerarna man får följa ger sig alla iväg av olika anledningar som gjorde att folk på den tiden emigrerade (mycket skickligt ihopknåpat rent historiskt!).
Beskrivningen av alla karaktärer känns tätt inpå, och man får följa deras olika tankegånger under resan. Karaktärerna blir så levande för mig att jag nästan glömmer bort att de är fiktiva. Speciellt drängen Robert, Karl-Oskars lillebror, fastnade jag för. Han lämnar Sverige bakom sig på grund utav en dröm om friheten. Friheten i att inte behöva slava som dräng för en annan bonde. Han är även den som är mest nyfiken och tappert påläst om det nya landet. Jag vet inte vad det va, men jag ömmade lite för honom genom hela boken, haha.
Moberg väver ihop ett vackert bildspråk där han ständigt återkommer till jordbruksmänniskornas leverne och hur sällsamt det är för dom att befinna sig på havet. Just Robert känns som en riktig funderare, och han är mycket fascinerad av Briggen Charlottas stora master.
Större delen av boken utspelar sig innan skaran av Smålänningar ger sig av ut på havet. Läsaren får följa vad som gjorde att sällskapet gav sig av, och en bild av ett kämpigt och fattigt liv i den lilla socken målas upp. Dessa människors relationer till varandra, till kyrkan och till samhället i stort vecklas sakta ut framför en, och ett frö till tanken om ett nytt liv växer till faktisk handling. Efter lite mer än halva boken börjar den andra delen - "Bönder på havet." Jag var rädd att denna del skulle bli seg och för lång, eftersom den praktiskt taget endast utgår från vad som sker på båten under de två skitiga månader de är fast på den. Spyor och ångest i trånga bås på mellandäck, dödsfall, sjukdomsfall som aldrig tycks ta slut. Det är mörkt porträtt av människor som kämpar. Men det är fortfarande levande, dynamiskt och precis lagom långt. När Charlotta når New York känner jag en enorm lättnad - precis som emigranterna ombord. Och återigen påminner Moberg oss om dessa människors ursprung genom vackra ord om de väldiga masterna.
Oj, vilken lång och halvdan recension detta blev, men OJ VILKEN LÅNG OCH SNYGG BOK DETTA ÄR! Jag var fast från första sekund, då man fick veta en del om Ljuders socken under tiden historien utspelar sig på. Insett att jag är en sucker för svensk historia.
Mina slutgiltiga ord är: Var inte rädda för Utvandrarsviten! Den är underbar och levande! Har redan börjat på Invandrarna.
Med andra ord var det väl inte helt oväntat att jag skulle gilla Utvandrarna. Jag tror jag var lite rädd att den skulle kännas dammig och svårsmält, men Moberg skrev så fantastiskt fint. Språket känns levande, inte alls svårförståeligt!
Historien kretsar kring en grupp människor från Småland som ger sig ut på oceanen med Briggen Charlotta för att nå lyckan i det nya landet. Man får följa dem alla, även om det är Karl-Oskar och Kristina som står i centrum. De bestämmer sig för att ge sig av då fattigdomen och svälten tar ifrån dem ett av deras barn. De andra passagerarna man får följa ger sig alla iväg av olika anledningar som gjorde att folk på den tiden emigrerade (mycket skickligt ihopknåpat rent historiskt!).
Beskrivningen av alla karaktärer känns tätt inpå, och man får följa deras olika tankegånger under resan. Karaktärerna blir så levande för mig att jag nästan glömmer bort att de är fiktiva. Speciellt drängen Robert, Karl-Oskars lillebror, fastnade jag för. Han lämnar Sverige bakom sig på grund utav en dröm om friheten. Friheten i att inte behöva slava som dräng för en annan bonde. Han är även den som är mest nyfiken och tappert påläst om det nya landet. Jag vet inte vad det va, men jag ömmade lite för honom genom hela boken, haha.
Moberg väver ihop ett vackert bildspråk där han ständigt återkommer till jordbruksmänniskornas leverne och hur sällsamt det är för dom att befinna sig på havet. Just Robert känns som en riktig funderare, och han är mycket fascinerad av Briggen Charlottas stora master.
"Robert tänkte: Kanske han själv hade varit med om att fälla de träd, som han nu såg där ute som nakna, smäckra stammar - kanske han hade huggit de furor, som tagits från sin orörlighets platser för att förflyttas till havet, för att liksom omplanteras - de mastträd som under återstoden av sin livstid skulle gunga omkring på havet och bäras av vatten istället för jord."
Större delen av boken utspelar sig innan skaran av Smålänningar ger sig av ut på havet. Läsaren får följa vad som gjorde att sällskapet gav sig av, och en bild av ett kämpigt och fattigt liv i den lilla socken målas upp. Dessa människors relationer till varandra, till kyrkan och till samhället i stort vecklas sakta ut framför en, och ett frö till tanken om ett nytt liv växer till faktisk handling. Efter lite mer än halva boken börjar den andra delen - "Bönder på havet." Jag var rädd att denna del skulle bli seg och för lång, eftersom den praktiskt taget endast utgår från vad som sker på båten under de två skitiga månader de är fast på den. Spyor och ångest i trånga bås på mellandäck, dödsfall, sjukdomsfall som aldrig tycks ta slut. Det är mörkt porträtt av människor som kämpar. Men det är fortfarande levande, dynamiskt och precis lagom långt. När Charlotta når New York känner jag en enorm lättnad - precis som emigranterna ombord. Och återigen påminner Moberg oss om dessa människors ursprung genom vackra ord om de väldiga masterna.
"[...] Det är furor från ett litet land långt borta, de hör hemma i samma steniga marker och moar som folket på skeppet, där de reser sig som riggens ryggrad - de är släkt med dessa människor, de är sega och okuvliga som folket de hjälper över havet."
Oj, vilken lång och halvdan recension detta blev, men OJ VILKEN LÅNG OCH SNYGG BOK DETTA ÄR! Jag var fast från första sekund, då man fick veta en del om Ljuders socken under tiden historien utspelar sig på. Insett att jag är en sucker för svensk historia.
Mina slutgiltiga ord är: Var inte rädda för Utvandrarsviten! Den är underbar och levande! Har redan börjat på Invandrarna.
July 1, 2012
I'm about half Swedish, and after I read "The Namesake," which I loved, I was curious about the story of my own family coming to the US. I really don't know much about my specific family, and sadly both grandparents with Swedish connections have died so I can't ask them anything. So I read the first book in this series to kind of use as a fictional surrogate. The main family comes to the Midwest at around the same time as my ancestors, so it's a reasonable substitution I suppose. I enjoyed it and I intend to read the following books in the series sometime soon.
This book takes place mostly in Sweden as the characters make their various decisions to leave for America. There are several different motivations and characters, all of them good stories written with great care. There are some seeking religious freedom, others running from failed pasts, and Karl Oskar, the main character who really just wants a better life when the crop yield starts really sucking. His wife isn't really into the idea at first, but she becomes (somewhat) more used to the idea over a long period of time.
Then we get onto the boat, which was a trip that royally sucked. The in-depth and well-researched conditions are one of my favorite parts of the book, even though they are hard to accept sometimes. The book was written in the 1950's, and takes place 100 years before that. So it's a long enough time ago that there is a little bit of mythology around it, but recent enough that the historical details seem pretty accurate.
Just as I was able to get a lot out of "The Namesake" even though the experience is not exactly my own, I think anyone will be able to get something out of this book. I look forward to the second!
PS There is also a movie version, and note that there are two movies: one that covers books 1 and 2, and the second of books 3 and 4. I haven't seen either since I want to read book 2 first. The only place I could find the first is for rental for $2 on Youtube. If interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPiEFt...
This book takes place mostly in Sweden as the characters make their various decisions to leave for America. There are several different motivations and characters, all of them good stories written with great care. There are some seeking religious freedom, others running from failed pasts, and Karl Oskar, the main character who really just wants a better life when the crop yield starts really sucking. His wife isn't really into the idea at first, but she becomes (somewhat) more used to the idea over a long period of time.
Then we get onto the boat, which was a trip that royally sucked. The in-depth and well-researched conditions are one of my favorite parts of the book, even though they are hard to accept sometimes. The book was written in the 1950's, and takes place 100 years before that. So it's a long enough time ago that there is a little bit of mythology around it, but recent enough that the historical details seem pretty accurate.
Just as I was able to get a lot out of "The Namesake" even though the experience is not exactly my own, I think anyone will be able to get something out of this book. I look forward to the second!
PS There is also a movie version, and note that there are two movies: one that covers books 1 and 2, and the second of books 3 and 4. I haven't seen either since I want to read book 2 first. The only place I could find the first is for rental for $2 on Youtube. If interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPiEFt...
January 6, 2014
Who is Vilhelm Moberg? He is a person I would very much like to thank for his gift of this classic 1951 first-in-the-series book of historical fiction THE EMIGRANTS, translated from the Swedish by Gustaf Lannestock. Moberg grew up in Sweden hearing first-hand the stories of those who emigrated to the United States and then, after undertaking much careful research, has provided us with this insightful treasure. Moberg's prose in translation is not especially elegant, but the impact of the content more than compensates for the somewhat stodgy, straightforward language.
In particular, Moberg communicates a vivid, historically-based image of the stresses of farm and village life in Sweden in the 1850s as well as providing an insightful look at the feelings, thoughts, and motivations of a range of characters who end up on one ship, headed for the young United States. Moberg introduces us to people, men and women, old and young, literate and illiterate, and makes us feel their ignorance, desperation, and yearning.
He portrays the precariousness of an existence marked by unrelenting hard work that cannot truly guard against hunger or financial calamity. A spike in population leads to land divisions, until there is no further division possible, and youngsters end up being legally bound out for years as poorly paid laborers by even caring parents to masters who may be stingy and harsh. Add in the vagaries of nature, limited educational options, deep uncertainty about the future, the strangling impact of debt, and an inflexible social and religious system. Suddenly, the burden of embarking on a costly, unpleasant, and dangerous sea journey emerges as almost logical.
In this first volume, the story finishes with the sea voyage coming to an end for key characters Karl Oskar and wife Kristina, along with the other survivors of the unpleasant Atlantic crossing.
In particular, Moberg communicates a vivid, historically-based image of the stresses of farm and village life in Sweden in the 1850s as well as providing an insightful look at the feelings, thoughts, and motivations of a range of characters who end up on one ship, headed for the young United States. Moberg introduces us to people, men and women, old and young, literate and illiterate, and makes us feel their ignorance, desperation, and yearning.
He portrays the precariousness of an existence marked by unrelenting hard work that cannot truly guard against hunger or financial calamity. A spike in population leads to land divisions, until there is no further division possible, and youngsters end up being legally bound out for years as poorly paid laborers by even caring parents to masters who may be stingy and harsh. Add in the vagaries of nature, limited educational options, deep uncertainty about the future, the strangling impact of debt, and an inflexible social and religious system. Suddenly, the burden of embarking on a costly, unpleasant, and dangerous sea journey emerges as almost logical.
In this first volume, the story finishes with the sea voyage coming to an end for key characters Karl Oskar and wife Kristina, along with the other survivors of the unpleasant Atlantic crossing.
May 30, 2009
I read this back in the 70s in Swedish along with the other following books. Every Swede reads this suite of books. It is like impossible to not read them. Moberg's work is a classic. I wonder what I would think if I were to read them today?
August 7, 2024
― “Karl Oskar had got what he wanted, but it wasn’t good for a person always to have his will. Most people thought he was a man with luck and of good fortune. He had two royal names, given him at baptism and formally recorded. He had the big Nilsa-nose—'Your nose is your greatest heritage,' his father used to say. But what help now were the names of kings and princes? What help now was a nose that extended a little further into the world than another’s? The day still seemed approaching when Sheriff Lönnegren might arrive at the farm to take something in pawn.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
The Emigrants is the first book of a four-volume fictional series on Swedish emigrants to America, written by Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg. By the time the book was first published in 1949, 1.3 million Swedish emigrants had arrived at Ellis Island, approximately one quarter of the population of that country. They were part of a larger wave of immigrants to America. Between 1820 and 1957, approximately 41 million immigrants came to the US; more than 34 million of these came from Europe. This makes emigration a worthy topic of fiction. The novel gives the reader a sense of what compelled these people to abandon their homeland and make the dangerous trek across the ocean to a new land.
The mass exodus of Swedes to the United States, often young and healthy men and women, during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was largely due to the economic and social circumstances in Sweden. For the novel’s main characters, they were driven to leave by poverty brought on by drought.
― “Into old gray cottages in tranquil hamlets where food is scarce for folk living according to inherited customs and traditions, a new restlessness is creeping over the threshold. Rumors are spread, news is shared, information is carried from neighbor to neighbor, through vales and valleys, through parishes and counties. These germs of unrest are like seeds scattered by the wind: one takes root somewhere deep in a man’s soul and begins its growth unknown to others; the sowing has been done in secret, thus the sprouting surprises neighbors and friends.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
To tell the story of Swedish emigration to America, author Vilhelm Moberg created the characters Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson. The Nilsson couple, with and their three young children, lived on a small farm in Småland, a province in southern Sweden. It is the middle of the 19th century. Karl Oskar’s father had worn out his health clearing stones from the land over many years. Karl Oskar took over the small farm and worked as hard as any man can be expected to work, but several years of drought had made it difficult for them to make payments on their mortgage.
Karl Oskar’s younger brother, Robert, is employed as a farmhand on another farm because Karl Oskar’s farm is too small to be further divided. But Robert’s employer is cruel to him, and Robert escapes from his cruel master―a crime in Sweden. The work of a farmhand is little better than slavery. Both brothers begin to dream of starting over in America, but they know little of that faraway land. The sea voyage is dangerous and can take several months, assuming the ship even reaches its destination.
― “Who had promised them tillable soil in the United States? Those who ruled over there had not written him a letter or given him a promise. He had no deed to a piece of land that would await them on arrival.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
As the family moves closer to leaving, they are faced with more uncertainty. Of their meager possessions, what will they need in the new land? What will they not need? They had heard of the Minnesota Territory but knew little else.
― “What must be brought along, what must be left behind? What was obtainable in the new land, and what was unobtainable? No one could advise, no one had traveled ahead to ascertain.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
Moberg’s The Emigrants is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting to gain a sense of what it was like for emigrants to leave their homeland. Some of my forebears came to this country from Germany. One woman in my family tree came to America on the Mayflower. It was interesting to read of the many challenges and difficult decisions that went into their decisions to come here. It’s easy to imagine their trepidation in taking on such a dangerous sea voyage.
The only disappointment I experienced was in discovering that this first novel ends with the ship’s arrival in the New York City harbor. I will have to read the second novel to find out what adjustments they had to make in their new homeland.
Readers of the novels might find it interesting that there is a statue of Karl Oskar and Kristina in Lindstrom, MN, about 40 miles NNE of Minneapolis. Karl Oskar looks out to the Minnesota wilderness while his wife, Kristina, looks back toward Sweden.
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
The Emigrants is the first book of a four-volume fictional series on Swedish emigrants to America, written by Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg. By the time the book was first published in 1949, 1.3 million Swedish emigrants had arrived at Ellis Island, approximately one quarter of the population of that country. They were part of a larger wave of immigrants to America. Between 1820 and 1957, approximately 41 million immigrants came to the US; more than 34 million of these came from Europe. This makes emigration a worthy topic of fiction. The novel gives the reader a sense of what compelled these people to abandon their homeland and make the dangerous trek across the ocean to a new land.
The mass exodus of Swedes to the United States, often young and healthy men and women, during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was largely due to the economic and social circumstances in Sweden. For the novel’s main characters, they were driven to leave by poverty brought on by drought.
― “Into old gray cottages in tranquil hamlets where food is scarce for folk living according to inherited customs and traditions, a new restlessness is creeping over the threshold. Rumors are spread, news is shared, information is carried from neighbor to neighbor, through vales and valleys, through parishes and counties. These germs of unrest are like seeds scattered by the wind: one takes root somewhere deep in a man’s soul and begins its growth unknown to others; the sowing has been done in secret, thus the sprouting surprises neighbors and friends.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
To tell the story of Swedish emigration to America, author Vilhelm Moberg created the characters Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson. The Nilsson couple, with and their three young children, lived on a small farm in Småland, a province in southern Sweden. It is the middle of the 19th century. Karl Oskar’s father had worn out his health clearing stones from the land over many years. Karl Oskar took over the small farm and worked as hard as any man can be expected to work, but several years of drought had made it difficult for them to make payments on their mortgage.
Karl Oskar’s younger brother, Robert, is employed as a farmhand on another farm because Karl Oskar’s farm is too small to be further divided. But Robert’s employer is cruel to him, and Robert escapes from his cruel master―a crime in Sweden. The work of a farmhand is little better than slavery. Both brothers begin to dream of starting over in America, but they know little of that faraway land. The sea voyage is dangerous and can take several months, assuming the ship even reaches its destination.
― “Who had promised them tillable soil in the United States? Those who ruled over there had not written him a letter or given him a promise. He had no deed to a piece of land that would await them on arrival.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
As the family moves closer to leaving, they are faced with more uncertainty. Of their meager possessions, what will they need in the new land? What will they not need? They had heard of the Minnesota Territory but knew little else.
― “What must be brought along, what must be left behind? What was obtainable in the new land, and what was unobtainable? No one could advise, no one had traveled ahead to ascertain.”
― Vilhelm Moberg, The Emigrants
Moberg’s The Emigrants is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting to gain a sense of what it was like for emigrants to leave their homeland. Some of my forebears came to this country from Germany. One woman in my family tree came to America on the Mayflower. It was interesting to read of the many challenges and difficult decisions that went into their decisions to come here. It’s easy to imagine their trepidation in taking on such a dangerous sea voyage.
The only disappointment I experienced was in discovering that this first novel ends with the ship’s arrival in the New York City harbor. I will have to read the second novel to find out what adjustments they had to make in their new homeland.
Readers of the novels might find it interesting that there is a statue of Karl Oskar and Kristina in Lindstrom, MN, about 40 miles NNE of Minneapolis. Karl Oskar looks out to the Minnesota wilderness while his wife, Kristina, looks back toward Sweden.
January 18, 2023
Gillade verkligen denna bok och Mobergs sätt att skriva. Man fick verkligen en insyn i hur det var att utvandra och vilket tufft beslut det måste ha varit. Gillar också att alla karaktärer representerar olika anledningar till varför människor utvandrade på denna tid. Det är ju ingen ”händelserik” bok i den bemärkelsen att det konstant händer nya och spännande saker, boken rör sig egentligen ganska långsamt. Jag hade dock inget emot detta då det gav utrymme till att lära känna karaktärerna (och även miljön) och skapa en relation till dem.
March 9, 2015
ملحمة رائعة. .
February 13, 2023
”De gamle tror att allting är utsett från begynnelsen, innan en föds. Då var det ju lika gott, vad en än företog sig. Vad skulle det då nytta till att sträva?”
LÄST 2022
Det tog två månader för mig att läsa den här boken, vilket tyvärr var längre än tiden det tog för utvandrarna att ta sig från Sverige till USA. I stort sett gillade jag verkligen boken, och jag ser fram emot att läsa resten av serien, men den var ganska lång. Ibland kändes det utdraget. Jag menar, det händer egentligen inte så mycket; det tar framförallt över hälften av boken innan de ens ger sig av. Man får dock verkligen tillbringa tid tillsammans med karaktärerna (och de är en del), vilket gör att det känns som om man känner alla ganska bra.
Det här är alltså historien om folk i Sverige under 1840-talet och därefter deras utvandring till USA för att försöka förbättra sina liv. Det var väldigt intressant att läsa om alla deras vardagliga liv i Småland, där i princip allting kan gå åt helvete med ett dåligt år av skörden. Det är fascinerande att läsa om hur ens förfäder kan ha haft det, även om just jag då inte är från Småland.
Jag blev dessutom lite förvånad över hur vissa scener ur boken verkligen känns "före sin tid", eller åtminstone som om de hade varit kontroversiella att skriva på 1940-talet. Efter en snabb googling hade jag rätt - det var kontroversiellt. Det finns en karaktär i boken, Ulrika, som är en före detta prostituerad, och alla andra karaktärer i boken ser ner på henne konstant på grund av detta. Ingen vill riktigt associeras med henne (förutom Åkianerna, men vi kommer till dem senare).
Det som förvånade mig (positivt) var att vi faktiskt får höra en hel del från hennes perspektiv, och vi får dessutom se henne försvara sig och totalt grilla männen som hatar på henne nu men en gång köpte hennes tjänster. En scen där hon gör just detta var tydligen så kontroversiell att att det var sett som skandalöst och ledde till Reuterdahlsfejden, och jag citerar nu Wikipedia (den bästa källan): "Riksdagsmannen Axel Rubbestad (Bondeförbundet) krävde att Vilhelm Moberg skulle sättas i fängelse och högerpartisten Axel Mannerskantz eldade upp sitt exemplar av Utvandrarna i värmepannan." Vem vet ,de kanske kände sig lite extra träffade? 🤔 Wikipedia säger också: "Moberg tvekade inte att förlöjliga sina motståndare", vilket jag verkligen kan uppskatta. Dessutom gjorde all denna publicitet bara att böckerna sålde ännu mer, så skrattar bäst som skrattar sist, Reuterdahl?
Romanen är dessutom otroligt välskriven. Jag trodde inte att jag skulle tycka om det så mycket som jag faktiskt gjorde. Många bra citat. Början av romanen tog andan ur mig.
Något jag däremot hade lite svårt för var att talet var skrivet i dialekt. Jag tror inte att jag riktigt har läst en bok som var skriven så tidigare, särskilt inte på svenska. Det gjorde att det tog mycket längre tid än vad det annars skulle ha gjort att bara läsa vanliga konversationer. Det kanske inte hjälpte att jag knappt vet hur småländska låter... men jag kan knappast föreställa mig att det låter fint efter vad jag sett. Något ganska roligt var dock när svenskarna skulle försöka lära sig att prata engelska. Smärtsant och pinsamt, ja, men också komiskt. Hela romanen är de facto ganska rolig, vilket var en trevlig överraskning.
Det sista jag vill nämna är Åkianerna - en sekt! Kul! Spännande! Väldigt intressant att de har en så signifikant del i denna berättelse. Vad jag inte visste är att det på riktigt var en sekt som existerade på 1700-talet? Moberg måste ha gjort mycket efterforskning för den här historien. Tja, det var nog allt jag hade att säga. Får se när jag vågar ge mig på den andra stora bjässen som antagligen tar mig ytterligare två månader att läsa.
LÄST 2022
Det tog två månader för mig att läsa den här boken, vilket tyvärr var längre än tiden det tog för utvandrarna att ta sig från Sverige till USA. I stort sett gillade jag verkligen boken, och jag ser fram emot att läsa resten av serien, men den var ganska lång. Ibland kändes det utdraget. Jag menar, det händer egentligen inte så mycket; det tar framförallt över hälften av boken innan de ens ger sig av. Man får dock verkligen tillbringa tid tillsammans med karaktärerna (och de är en del), vilket gör att det känns som om man känner alla ganska bra.
”Jag skäms för att visa mig svag, mor min har lärt mig att en kvinna aldrig får visa sig svag. Hon skall vara herre över sina lustar, hon skall inte vara som manfolken.” - Kristina
Det här är alltså historien om folk i Sverige under 1840-talet och därefter deras utvandring till USA för att försöka förbättra sina liv. Det var väldigt intressant att läsa om alla deras vardagliga liv i Småland, där i princip allting kan gå åt helvete med ett dåligt år av skörden. Det är fascinerande att läsa om hur ens förfäder kan ha haft det, även om just jag då inte är från Småland.
Gud gav ett par föräldrar ett barn att älska och vårda, och när de hade hunnit första sig vid den lilla tillräckligt djupt, så tog han henne tillbaka. Hur hade de försynta sig, att de förtjänade detta? Vad ont hade han väl hunnit göra under sitt liv, att han en gång blev tvungen att snickra denna kista?
Jag blev dessutom lite förvånad över hur vissa scener ur boken verkligen känns "före sin tid", eller åtminstone som om de hade varit kontroversiella att skriva på 1940-talet. Efter en snabb googling hade jag rätt - det var kontroversiellt. Det finns en karaktär i boken, Ulrika, som är en före detta prostituerad, och alla andra karaktärer i boken ser ner på henne konstant på grund av detta. Ingen vill riktigt associeras med henne (förutom Åkianerna, men vi kommer till dem senare).
Det som förvånade mig (positivt) var att vi faktiskt får höra en hel del från hennes perspektiv, och vi får dessutom se henne försvara sig och totalt grilla männen som hatar på henne nu men en gång köpte hennes tjänster. En scen där hon gör just detta var tydligen så kontroversiell att att det var sett som skandalöst och ledde till Reuterdahlsfejden, och jag citerar nu Wikipedia (den bästa källan): "Riksdagsmannen Axel Rubbestad (Bondeförbundet) krävde att Vilhelm Moberg skulle sättas i fängelse och högerpartisten Axel Mannerskantz eldade upp sitt exemplar av Utvandrarna i värmepannan." Vem vet ,de kanske kände sig lite extra träffade? 🤔 Wikipedia säger också: "Moberg tvekade inte att förlöjliga sina motståndare", vilket jag verkligen kan uppskatta. Dessutom gjorde all denna publicitet bara att böckerna sålde ännu mer, så skrattar bäst som skrattar sist, Reuterdahl?
”Jag vet inte om prosten nämnde någonting om den där gången i kalvakätten när Alarumsbonden våldtog en föräldralös fjortonårig tös, som han hade köpt på auktion, men jag tror knappt det. Kanske gick den gärningen med in i allt det andra, som bonden hade gjort för att komma in i himmelriket.” - Ulrika
Romanen är dessutom otroligt välskriven. Jag trodde inte att jag skulle tycka om det så mycket som jag faktiskt gjorde. Många bra citat. Början av romanen tog andan ur mig.
De män och kvinnor, som denna berättelse handlar om, har för länge sedan lämnat detta livet. Några av deras namn kan ännu läsas på söndervittrande gravstenar, resta tusen mil från den bygd, där de föddes till världen.
I hemorten är deras namn glömda och deras utvandrings äventyr skall snart ingå i sagan och legenden.
Något jag däremot hade lite svårt för var att talet var skrivet i dialekt. Jag tror inte att jag riktigt har läst en bok som var skriven så tidigare, särskilt inte på svenska. Det gjorde att det tog mycket längre tid än vad det annars skulle ha gjort att bara läsa vanliga konversationer. Det kanske inte hjälpte att jag knappt vet hur småländska låter... men jag kan knappast föreställa mig att det låter fint efter vad jag sett. Något ganska roligt var dock när svenskarna skulle försöka lära sig att prata engelska. Smärtsant och pinsamt, ja, men också komiskt. Hela romanen är de facto ganska rolig, vilket var en trevlig överraskning.
Det är detsamma som sche-ljudet i stjäla, stjälk, stjälpa, stjärna, stjärt, sa han, men inte blev jag klokare för det. Stjärt? sa jag. Du menar väl röven? De måste visst kalla den stjärten i skolan. - Arvid
Hon var så gammal, att hon skulle ha legat i graven för längesen, om Djävulen hade skött sin tjänst. Men han var väl också rädd för henne.
Det sista jag vill nämna är Åkianerna - en sekt! Kul! Spännande! Väldigt intressant att de har en så signifikant del i denna berättelse. Vad jag inte visste är att det på riktigt var en sekt som existerade på 1700-talet? Moberg måste ha gjort mycket efterforskning för den här historien. Tja, det var nog allt jag hade att säga. Får se när jag vågar ge mig på den andra stora bjässen som antagligen tar mig ytterligare två månader att läsa.
June 29, 2023
4.5
Jag är otroligt positiv överraskad
Jag började läsa den här boken enbart "för att ha läst den" och förväntade mig inte att tycka om den så mycket
Den skildrar mänsklighet och ambition väldigt fint, det faktum att man måste försöka i livet.
Skriven ur olika perspektiv genom hela, ibland ur tredjeperson ibland första (ur både manliga och kvinnliga perspektiv!) vilket gör den underhållande. Även berättelserna eller nästan sägnerna som kommer ibland var najs, det hjälpte att connecta med korpamoen-gänget.
Alla fick också en backstory och en egen röst vilket jag gillade.
Jag känner mig väldigt fäst vid de här karaktärerna och ser framemot del två och tre (så hoppas de är lika bra) de delarna jag äger. Sista brevet till Sverige får jag väl låna eller något
Jag är otroligt positiv överraskad
Jag började läsa den här boken enbart "för att ha läst den" och förväntade mig inte att tycka om den så mycket
Den skildrar mänsklighet och ambition väldigt fint, det faktum att man måste försöka i livet.
Skriven ur olika perspektiv genom hela, ibland ur tredjeperson ibland första (ur både manliga och kvinnliga perspektiv!) vilket gör den underhållande. Även berättelserna eller nästan sägnerna som kommer ibland var najs, det hjälpte att connecta med korpamoen-gänget.
Alla fick också en backstory och en egen röst vilket jag gillade.
Jag känner mig väldigt fäst vid de här karaktärerna och ser framemot del två och tre (så hoppas de är lika bra) de delarna jag äger. Sista brevet till Sverige får jag väl låna eller något
November 9, 2020
I started the book a few years ago and I couldn't get into it. So I had in my mind that this was a very dense and boring book. Anyway I decided to give it another try and I have to admit I was so very wrong, it's informative and attention to details but far from boring. I got really invested in the stories and I couldn't put it down as I didn't want to get out of the story. It's just so vividly told and it feels like Vilhelm Moberg really put his heart in the story. I highly recommend this book!
January 1, 2019
Jag hade nog räknat med lite mer invandring i boken men den är sin titel trogen — 100% utvandring i denna vilken i praktiken främst handlar om atlantsegling.
February 12, 2023
Interesantākais fakts par šīs tetraloģijas latvisko tulkojumu ir tas, ka tas izdots tikai un vienīgi trimdā "Grāmatu Drauga" apgādā. Un tas ir savādi, jo, zinot lasošā latvieša aizraušanos un mīlestību pret skandināvu ģimenes sāgām, domāju, ka jaunam izdevumam būtu garantēti panākumi. Ne tikai ierasti skarbās un dziļi serdē romantiskās ziemeļu prozas dēļ, bet tāpēc, ka šī ir caur-un-caur ļoti laba literatūra par mums labi saprotamu tēmu. Jo, lai gan 19. gadsimta vidū, kad notiek romāna darbība, no Latvijas uz Ameriku aizbrauca vien retais, bet Zviedrijā pirmo drosminieku saujiņai ļoti drīz sekoja tik daudzi, ka 100 gadu laikā izceļoja 25%, vēlākos laikos revolūcijas, kara un trūkuma izdzīto arī starp mūsējiem netrūkst.
Izlasīju vienā elpas vilcienā, uzreiz ķēros pie nākamās grāmatas un nemaz nebrīnos, ka Karlshamnā grāmatas galvenajiem varoņiem Kārlim Oskaram un Kristīnei uzcelts piemineklis.
Izlasīju vienā elpas vilcienā, uzreiz ķēros pie nākamās grāmatas un nemaz nebrīnos, ka Karlshamnā grāmatas galvenajiem varoņiem Kārlim Oskaram un Kristīnei uzcelts piemineklis.
November 5, 2024
Intressant
February 28, 2021
Blev bra efter ungefär 200 sidor
December 20, 2014
"Utvandrarna", "The Emigrants", was published 1949 and is the first in a tetralogy about the Swedish emigrants during the 1800's. The conditions for the Swedish people back then were terrible, especially for the farmers. The ground was rocky and dry, nothing grew. The possibilities were very limited in the country-side. The men ended up with the same kind of work as their parents, often taking over their work on the farm, or becoming a farm boy somewhere else. The women were married to other farmers. Everyone fought against poverty and famine.
Karl Oskar and Kristina are fed up with their life in Småland and decide to embark on a small ship to Amerika, the mystical country where everything seems to be possible, and where there are no priests that decide what is right and wrong and you address everyone the same. Their opinions are without criticism. Amerika seems to be the perfekt place. The emigrants from Småland - Karl Oskar and Kristina, the young and curious Robert, the mistreated Arvid, the prostitute Ulrika and the religious Daniel, the latter belonging to "åkianerna", a group of a kind of puritanism - embark on the ship to Amerika. The crowded journey becomes a great challenge. It's interesting to be able to see the world from their perspective, their reflections of life and theories about the sea.
This is a glimpse of Swedish history. Many people have fought like these people for survival in a country with limited opportunities. The change Sweden has gone through in a hundred years is mind-blowing. When reading about priest's house calls examinations and the way farmers treated their workers, it's difficult to realize it's the same country as today. The hunger and poverty were wide-spread in the countryside. Everyone should think about and thank our ancestors for fighting so hard, it's through them we are living today.
Karl Oskar and Kristina are fed up with their life in Småland and decide to embark on a small ship to Amerika, the mystical country where everything seems to be possible, and where there are no priests that decide what is right and wrong and you address everyone the same. Their opinions are without criticism. Amerika seems to be the perfekt place. The emigrants from Småland - Karl Oskar and Kristina, the young and curious Robert, the mistreated Arvid, the prostitute Ulrika and the religious Daniel, the latter belonging to "åkianerna", a group of a kind of puritanism - embark on the ship to Amerika. The crowded journey becomes a great challenge. It's interesting to be able to see the world from their perspective, their reflections of life and theories about the sea.
This is a glimpse of Swedish history. Many people have fought like these people for survival in a country with limited opportunities. The change Sweden has gone through in a hundred years is mind-blowing. When reading about priest's house calls examinations and the way farmers treated their workers, it's difficult to realize it's the same country as today. The hunger and poverty were wide-spread in the countryside. Everyone should think about and thank our ancestors for fighting so hard, it's through them we are living today.
December 11, 2025
Ever since I watched on TV 'Little House on the Prairie' I became very interested in the Pioneers in North America. Unfortunately in those times those books were not sold in Mexico. Decades passed and I finally could read them on Kindle. I am aware that these books are for children and sugar-coated on the extreme struggles that these brave families had. So, I started first with two other books from Norweian families and now this one, The Emigrants on Swedish families. This was very interesting and I plan to continue with the rest of the books in the series. The level of detail, the life and struggles in Sweden, the characters was amazing. A true journey to those times and the hard decisions and conditions they faced in search of a better life.
June 1, 2015
هذا الكتاب هو الجزء الأول من أربعة أجزاء كتبها فيلهلم موبيرغ ليرسم من خلالها قصة المهاجرين السويديين الاوائل الى القارة الأمريكية.
في هذا الجزء من الرواية يستغرق موبيرغ في وصف المجتمعات الزراعية في السويد في القرن التاسع عشر ويتناول الأسباب المختلفة التي دعت أولئك الفلاحين للهجرة. ثم يحكي قصة عبورهم المحيط وما تخللها من صعاب.
من الصعب تقييم العمل بشكل عام دون قراءة باقي الأجزاء لتتضح رؤية الكاتب ورسالته في هذا العمل. بشكل عام العمل ممتع وإن عابه بعض التكرار. أما الترجمة فبحاجة الى مراجعة!
في هذا الجزء من الرواية يستغرق موبيرغ في وصف المجتمعات الزراعية في السويد في القرن التاسع عشر ويتناول الأسباب المختلفة التي دعت أولئك الفلاحين للهجرة. ثم يحكي قصة عبورهم المحيط وما تخللها من صعاب.
من الصعب تقييم العمل بشكل عام دون قراءة باقي الأجزاء لتتضح رؤية الكاتب ورسالته في هذا العمل. بشكل عام العمل ممتع وإن عابه بعض التكرار. أما الترجمة فبحاجة الى مراجعة!
August 8, 2016
رواية تحكي قصة مجموعة من الفلاحيين السويديين قست عليهم أرضهم بعد أن شحّت مواردهم وأملوا بتغيير حالهم بالهجرة الى العالم الجديد، كتب الكاتب السويدي ويليم موبيرغ أحداث هذه الرحلة التي وقعت عام 1850م وماواجهوه المهاجرون من مصاعب حينها كتخليد لذكرى من هاجر من أبناء وطنه الى الولايات المتحدة طلبًا لحياة جديدة ومستقبل أفضل، الرواية مكونة من 4 أجزاء ويعتبر هذا الجزء هو الجزء الأول منها ولم تصدر حتى الآن ترجمة عربية لباقي الأجزاء.
October 25, 2009
This is a truely wonderful book that I am very happy to have read. Its amazing to read about what my ancestors lives might have been like (I am Swedish myself). I highly recommend every Swede and American to read this book!
April 11, 2025
وتيرة الكتاب مثل وتيرة الرحلة البحرية البطيئة،
يناسب أن أخذ مني سنة
فكرة الهجرة والانتقال أجنبية تمامًا عنّي، وقصة عائلة كارل أوسكار بصّرتني لكثير من معانيها
هذا الكتاب جزء من سلسلة، لكنه حوى طريق الهجرة كاملًا
يناسب أن أخذ مني سنة
فكرة الهجرة والانتقال أجنبية تمامًا عنّي، وقصة عائلة كارل أوسكار بصّرتني لكثير من معانيها
هذا الكتاب جزء من سلسلة، لكنه حوى طريق الهجرة كاملًا
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