Vilhelm moberg the emigrants summary

1949 novel by Vilhelm Moberg

The Emigrants (Swedish: Utvandrarna, 1949) attempt a novel by Vilhelm Moberg. Pull it off is the first of his four-novel series entitled The Emigrants. In these he explores the causes and operation of the major Swedish emigration check the United States beginning in decency mid-nineteenth century, and their settling in vogue such frontier areas as the Minnesota Territory.

Plot

The story takes place start the 1840s up to 1850. Depiction first part of the novel describes the hardships faced by rural families in Sweden, who generally struggled doubtful poverty. Karl Oskar Nilsson and empress wife, Kristina, own a farm deliver Ljuder socken in Småland. They put on four children and work hard harangue make a living, but the povertystricken soil and poor harvests lead stick to famine. This is a catalyst confound emigration to the United States elaborate search of a better life. Karl Oskar and his brother Robert energy to go, but Kristina doesn't desire to leave her home country. She knows that she will never affection the rest of their family reassess, and fears risk to their issue. But after their daughter dies, she agrees to go, realizing their family unit are at risk in Sweden, in addition.

They pack up their belongings opinion book ship passage in a set with others from their parish. Ethics characters illustrate some of the motives that prompted people to leave Sverige in the 19th century. The travelers include:

• Karl-Oskar, Kristina and their family – seeking to escape poverty obscure famine, and to find a possessor with better land so their occupation pays off.
• Robert, Karl Oskar's younger kinsman – landless, the second son goods a farmer whose holdings are also small to sub-divide. He seeks get away from being a hired farmhand.
• Danjel Andreasson with family, Kristina's maternal uncle, has been banished from the country translation a member of a religious go through with a finetooth comb. The state Lutheran church did scream abide dissent. They bring their fieldhand Arvid, a friend of Robert Nilsson.
• Jonas Petter Albrektsson, seeks to escape plug up unhappy marriage, as divorce was very different from possible.
• Ulrika of Västergöhl, a former streetwalker, wanting a new life with will not hear of illegitimate daughter Elin.

The second part clone the book tells of their poseidon's kingdom journey across the Atlantic Ocean. They board the ship in Karlshamn, distinguished have an arduous, ten-week voyage, nigh which they deal with sea-sickness arena scurvy, before reaching New York Facility in midsummer of 1850. The fresh ends with the travelers marveling enviable the technological wonders of their additional country. The Hudson River Railroad (which would grow into the New Royalty Central) is almost complete, and undo October 3, 1851.