A classic of american regional fiction, and one of the strongest novels of the scandinavianamerican immigrant experience, cited by coan as our finest novel of pioneering on the great plains. A descendant of the trottlander tribe of southern norway myself, i grew up on a farm in midwest minnesota and experienced the identical landscapes so vividly described in rolvaags masterpiece. A saga of the prairie perennial classics collin hansen editorial director. Giants in the earth follows a norwegian pioneer familys struggles with the land and the elements of the dakota territory as they try to make a new life in america. Giants in the earth a saga of the prairie 1st edition. All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap. The turnout was large10 members including ron, adrian, ed, john, angelo, mark, art, irv, chuck and jack. We had a broad ranging discussion focusing largely on immigrant stories from our own experience parents, grandparents, ourselves and on what it took for people to leave their families, homes, communities, everything familiar, to. Rolvaags epic giants in the earth is truly an american classic, especially for those of norwegian or scandinavian descent or those whove lived in the great plains. First edition giants in the earth a saga of the prairie by o. While giants in the earth deals with norwegian pioneers on the great plains in. A saga of the prairie by ole edvart rolvaag a readable copy. Rolvaag entitled giants in the earth is truly a heroic epic of the settling of the upper plains. The book is based partly on rolvaags personal experiences as a settler, and on the experiences.
Peder victorious 1928 and their fathers god 1931 complete the epic, although these two novels are less compelling. However, his sensitive wife, beret, does not adapt very well to life on the desolate prairie, and she begins to feel homesick for norway. Just by the way that he goes about everything with such joy, one can see that his body has been programmed to. Rolvaags giants in the earth will forever remain as of the truly epic works of american literature. A saga of the prairie classic reprint ole edvart rolvaag on. A saga of the prairie perennial classics ole edvart rolvaag isbn. A saga of the prairie perennial classics by ole edvart rolvaag free pdf d0wnl0ad, audio books, books to read, good books to read, cheap books, good books, online books, books online, book. Details about first edition giants in the earth a saga of the prairie by o. He dreams of the day when he will be wealthy and own a lot of land. This classic novel about norwegian immigration is set in my home state of south dakota. Rolvaag keeps his narrative focused on the family of per hansa with his longsuffering wife beret and four children, andongen, storehans, ole and peder victorious.
I bought it for my son, a doctor who loves reading american history. I often thought about the book and remembered the main characters, norwegian immigrants. A saga of the prairie perennial classics edition 9th by rolvaag, ole edvart paperback1999. Rolvaag that chronicles the struggles of norwegian immigrant settlers in the dakota territory in the 1870s.
A saga of the prairie i am aware of the slight similarity existing between johan bojers the emigrants and certain portions of the first book of my novel. Rolvaag that chronicles the struggles of norwegian immigrant. About giants in the earth while giants in the earth deals with norwegian pioneers on the great plains in the latter half of the nineteenth century, it is, in a sense, a story of all the american pioneers who went before them into the west, and is a part of the story of the conquest of the continent. A saga of t he prairie perennial classics by ole edvart rolvaag. Condition good in illustrated wrappers some spine slant and creasing to the spine, wear to the edges of the covers pencilled notation. A saga of t he prairie perennial classics perennial classics ed. Giants in the earth npr coverage of giants in the earth.
He is hardworking, honest, thoughtful, caring, and many other things that help him to get ahead in life on the prairie. Rent giants in the earth a saga of the prairie 1st edition 9780060931933 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. It seems to be a true description of the life the early settlers lived, the desperation of opressive freedom, and the claustrophobic effect of too much open space. Rolvaags giants in the earth will forever remain as of the truly epic works of american. After i read it i told my teacher this is the best book i have ever read. All purchases from this bookshelf support the gospel coalition. A saga of the prairie, paperback by rolvaag, ole edvart. A saga of the prairie perennial classics by rolvaag, ole edvart and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The stirring story of a norwegian immigrant and his wife and their lives as pioneers on the prairies of dakota. Gold cloth covered boards with ornate gilt design and text on spine.
The classic story of a norwegian pioneer familys struggles with the land and the elements of the dakota territory as they try to make a new life in america. The grapes of wrath by john steinbeck little house on the prairie by laura ingalls wilder. I bought my son the hardback book, which is better in that it has easy to read print and an excellent introduction to the writer, rolvaag. When i was a fifteen year old high school sophomore, my american history teacher assigned the book giants in the earth. Giants in the earth subtitle a saga of the prairie author ole edvart rolvaag.