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The Emigrants: The Emigrant Novels: Book I Paperback – September 15, 1995

by Vilhelm Moberg (Author)

539

Book 1 of 4: Emigrant Novels

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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.

Book 1 of 4

Emigrant Novels
Print length

366 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Borealis Books
Publication date

September 15, 1995
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.3 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0873513193
ISBN-13

978-0873513197
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Published between 1951 and 1961, Moberg's four-volume "Emigrant" epic offers the saga of the Swedish immigrant's role in the settling of the American frontier.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Warm and sympathetic . . . finely written and deeply moving.”
New York Times Book Review

“Obviously Moberg’s major work. . . . He writes with clarity and vigor.”
New York Herald Tribune Book Review

“A worthy book . . . very serious in its purpose.”
New Yorker

“Moberg’s emigrant sequence is our literature’s most magnificent epic.”
Helmer Lång, Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly

"It's important to have Moberg's Emigrant Novels available for another generation of readers."
Bruce Karstadt, American Swedish Institute

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Borealis Books; 1st edition (September 15, 1995)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0873513193
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0873513197
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #187,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,701 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #16,940 in Historical Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
539

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Vilhelm Moberg

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Vilhelm Moberg (1898-1972) was one of Sweden's greatest writers of the twentieth century and is well known for his remarkable "The Emigrants" (1949), a four-volume epic of Swedish immigration to America.

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4.5 out of 5

539 global ratings

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Historybuff

Genuine

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024

Verified Purchase

In Sweden this was voted the best book ever written in Swedish. Too bad this is edition is in English ; p. I read the whole series in Swedish long time ago and it’s unforgettable. Bought the English edition for family members who don’t speak Swedish.

Helpful

DPB

I gained a greater understanding of my own Swedish ancestors

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

I found this book to be wonderfully interesting, providing an insight to what my own great grandfather must have felt in his journey to North America (though 32 years after the setting of this novel). While fictionalized, it made the decision and hardship of emigrating to a largely unknown land, quite real.

Having stood on the actual farm of my forebears in Sweden, this past summer, the descriptions of the land and places was so much more real to me and I gained a better appreciation for the hardships that existed. The place is idyllic in and of itself, but obviously the pressures of the church and system of inheritance which left families impoverished, explains why anyone would "give it all up" for the great unknown.

The only reason for four stars rather than five is the propensity of the author to sometimes wander into long, somewhat irrelevant narratives. But they are easily recognized and skimming quickly through those passages made them more tolerable.

I highly recommend this to anyone with Swedish ancestors who came to America in the second half of the 19th century. It will help you understand why they came here and just how hard it was.

12 people found this helpful

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K

It’s a book of art

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023

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That’s why it’s a gift.

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ShadyLady

Reading these 4 books was a memorable experience!

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

I completed all four books and cherish the experience. My local library had only a very old copy of the first book. Luckily I could pick up #2, #3, and #4 in ebook form and read them on my tablet. What a shame that the library doesn't have the complete collection. These are books that keep you fully engrossed AND inform and educate you. They are even page-turners at times, because you come to care so much about the people, and you worry about them when they face hardship and danger. Frankly, I cried last night when I finished the 4th book in the set. The four books cover what life was like in rural Sweden, what it was like coming across the ocean on a long slow crowded voyage, arriving in the U.S., traveling to Minnesota, and homesteading on virgin land. Sure puts my travails and troubles in perspective. . . and gives greater depth to my understanding of what made the United States special.

Other books I plan to read soon: Giants in the Earth by Rolvaag; I think maybe I did an oral book report on this in 10th grade and got an A+. And I picked up used copies of two books by Trygve Gulbranssen about Norway: Beyond Sing the Woods was one I bought approximately 15 years ago and LOVED, and more recently I bought his next book The Wind from the Mountains. Now I will read the pair. Wish these Gulbranssen books were available in ebook format; i invite you to click on the link on Amazon to tell the publisher to digitize them. If you are fond of reading about days gone by, try Lorna Doone, which is another one on my "should read it again" list.

22 people found this helpful

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Clyde LeBonz

Extraordinary Account of American Settlement

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2020

Verified Purchase

I ordered this book on the recent news of Max von Sydow's death, which brought to mind one of his early movies, also named "The Emigrants". The movie was extraordinarily good, if sometimes a bit grisly in detail, and follows the book very closely.

The novel is close to five-star, but the only downside (for me) was the overly detailed descriptions of each phase of Karl and Kristina's lives. There were sections of text where I merely scanned entire paragraphs to get to the meat of the story. Nevertheless, the actual story is gripping and heartening.

I'd apply the same review to Books II and III of the series. Well worth your time, as is the film.

2 people found this helpful

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William H Saunders

A Powerful Original and an Excellent Translation Restored

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is a revisit for me. I first encountered the Emigrant tetralogy when I was in Sweden in the 1970's on a sabbatical. After seeing the films based on the novels, I bought the Swedish versions of all four books. Though my Swedish was far from fluent, I could easily recognize an extraordinary prose style. Reading was more like listening to the stories being recited by a master storyteller. I can best describe the style as possessing the gravity and resonance of the King James bible with an addition of affectionate humor over the foibles of the vivid characters.

On my return to the US, I looked in my university library to see if English translations existed. They did, but in two volumes rather than four, and with extensive omissions from the original text, evidently intended to protect the sensitive reader from the frank speech of the characters in matters of sex and bodily functions. All in all, a pale reflection of the robust original. I blamed the translator for these depredations, but recently found that the culprit was Moberg's original American publisher, whose censorship Moberg had unsuccessfully fought.

The present editions date from the 1990's and show that the translation is in fact an accurate, complete, and eloquent reflection of the Swedish original (I have made spot comparisons). Read not only The Emigrants but all four of the novels in these Minnesota Historical Society versions. You will learn much of American history and the factors that shaped the American character, as well as becoming acquainted with an unforgettable set of characters and their iconic experiences.

13 people found this helpful

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Madolyn Edwards

Unable to read...print too small

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024

Verified Purchase

Maybe this is a good book, but, print is too small for me to read.

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Mreen

An historical novel of early Swedish immigrants

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2023

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Book 1 of a four book series. Interesting characters.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

wjcroberts

A pertinent, thought provoking book, in' Ibsen take it or leave it style" ,this is how it was.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

What in essence holds -builds communities? what is the requisite cement that binds at interpersonal, family and community intrfaces.These are some of the book"s very big themes.Towards the end the question raised when passing a home bound ship-- What have I done? it's not my home anymore,What is home anyway in the light of a stormy and to some a life loosing Atlantic crossing.The social framework is strict Lutherism and a potent cause of discomfort and unease to some of the characters .Such was the books hold on me that their concerns became mine, they are pertinent today.Not an easy book ,but well worth the effort.

Kris

The Emigrants by Vilhelm Moberg

Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

Very authentic depiction of history in Sweden and America

Elise

Amazing story, disappointing translation...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2013

Verified Purchase

The Emigrants paints an absolutely fascinating story, especially when you consider it's all based on real events and real people's lives. If you have any interest in Scandinavia or Scandinavian culture, this is definitely required reading.
However, I've had the fortune to read the book in Swedish as well as in English and it is shockingly clear that the English language translation has not aged gracefully and is in dire need of an update...

3 people found this helpful

jacqueline

part of the group

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2011

Verified Purchase

Just love these books by Vilhelm Moberg. Have all four, but currently half-way through 'Unto a Good Land'.
I better now understand how things were in Smaland - my husband is Swedish (from Smaland) and we lived there a while. Now I understand why the 'Smalanningars' are so tight!! Am disturbed about the cruelty and suffering of animals which comes up from time to time. Owing to time constraints, I'm reading these books slowly and they have consequently 'become part of my life'. I am on the journey with these folk. A wonderful experience.

One person found this helpful

Edith

Book rec'd. as ordered! I will probably order, in due time, the following 3 books in this series!

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