The Emigrants III and IV The Settlers and Last Letter Home

Vilhelm Moberg (1898-1973) was one of Sweden's leading men of letters, and is chiefly remembered today for his peerless emigrant tetralogy. These four books tell the story of Karl Oskar Nilsson, a Swedish farmer, who decides to emigrate to the United States to find a better future for his children. But, emigration is hard, and building a new life in a strange land is harder still. These books spoke to all Swedes who saw family members leave and never return, and they speak to Americans whose ancestors made similar voyages. Overall, I found these books to be very moving. The characters are so human, that I found myself suffering with them, and sharing their joy. I wish that I could do justice to these books, but fear that I am not eloquent enough to convey just how wonderful they are. If I could recommend any books above all others that I have reviewed, it would be the Emigrants books. Please consider reading this volume and The Emigrants I and II! Here are what the two books contained in this volume are about: The Settlers - This book follows the experiences of Karl Oskar Nilsson, and his wife Kristina, from 1853 to 1860. In 1853 Karl Oskar is surprised to find something new in the woods around his homestead - a neighbor. The mass migration of Swedes has begun, and soon there is a community, with a schoolhouse and a church. Karl Oskar's younger brother Robert returns from the California gold rush, seemingly broken in health and spirit, and reluctant to say what happened to him. It is a bittersweet time of change, a time of gaining and a time of losing. The Last Letter Home - This final book follows the experiences of Karl Oskar Nilsson, and his wife Kristina, from 1860 to 1890. The American Civil War has come, and Karl Oscar agonizes over whether or not to join in the defense of his new country. However, things become a good deal worse when the Dakota Indians become tired of the treatment they are receiving at the hands of the United States, and begin a war against the white inhabitants of Minnesota. Life goes on after these upheavals, but not without costs. This bittersweet book follows the emigrants through to the very end, as the new generation grows up and becomes Americans. [For those of you with young children, I would like to recommend the Kirsten books in the American Girls series. Written for young readers (primarily girls), it tells the story of a Swedish family that immigrates to Minnesota in 1854.]