The story starts with a description of the land itself, hopelessly in conflict with the people who work it. This is a truly powerful novel depicting the epic journey of the Nilsson family from their arid and rocky Swedish farmland to what they hope will be a new life in North America. 'It's important to have Moberg's Emigrant Novels available for another generation of readers.' -Bruce Karstadt, American Swedish Institute Read more These editions contain introductions written by Roger McKnight, Gustavus Adolphus College, and restore Moberg's bibliography not included in earlier English editions.īook 1 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.

First published between 19 in Swedish, these four books were considered a single work by Moberg, who intended that they be read as documentary novels. Moberg's extensive research in the papers of Swedish emigrants in archival collections, including the Minnesota Historical Society, enabled him to incorporate many details of pioneer life.

His consistently faithful depiction of these humble people's lives is a major strength of the Emigrant Novels.

Considered one of Sweden's greatest 20th-century writers, Vilhelm Moberg created Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson to portray the joys and tragedies of daily life for early Swedish pioneers in America.

The emigrants by vilhelm moberg