The Emigrants

Emigrant Novels Series, Book 1

De: Vilhelm Moberg, Gustaf Lannestock - translator, Roger McKnight - introduction

Narrado por: Ann Marie Arvdal Richardson

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. 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, including the Minnesota Historical Society, 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 editions contain introductions written by Roger McKnight, Gustavus Adolphus College.

Book 1 introduces Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson, their three young children, and 11 others who make up a resolute party of Swedes fleeing the poverty, religious persecution, and social oppression of Småland in 1850.

©1949 Vilhelm Moberg; Translation copyright 1951 by Gustaf Lannestock; New material copyright 1995 by the Minnesota Historical Society (P)2021 Tantor

Great human interest novel

Interesting book full of details about the way of life of country people in Sweden in 1850, with well defined characters that soon become familiar and captivate the readers, who get curious to follow their adventures as emigrants. The reader is excellent, with a pleasant voice and expression, and a cadence suitable to the style of story.

great tale

I first watched the movies from the 70s and really enjoyed them. I enjoyed this book a lot wish the others were available on audible.

Great story

This story was interesting to me since I have ancestors that came from Sweden. Although they came a bit later. The story added depth to my perceptions about communications in that time period, education levels, and the church in Sweden essentially being part of the local government. Neat piece, it does take some patience to stay with it since it sounds so dry.

The story works its way slowly into your heart.

--One of my sisters has been living in Sweden for 40 years. Years ago, she and her children gave me the 4 books in this series. It took me a while to read them and thereby appreciate the gift that they had given me. I have enjoyed this audio version of the first book and hope that Audible will publish the other three books soon.
--The reader has a soft modest voice that threatened to be boring at first. Then I realized that she was pronouncing the Swedish names and terms faithfully. With that I came to appreciate her voice to the point of bonding with it by the end of this first book.
--The prose is modest in tone. And the story builds slowly. Maybe I should say that the story builds a shovel full at a time. Soon there is a world there. By the end I am both eager and afraid to follow these characters into America. I was surprised and delighted when, halfway into the story, sexuality and even bawdiness begin enriching the tale.
--I can't help but wonder how much talent, love and work went into this deceptively modest epic.

Excellent book!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in years! I could hardly put it down. Please put the other 3 books in this series on Audible!!