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Grass Of The Earth: The Story Of A Norwegian Immigrant Family In Dakota (Borealis Books)
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This is an engaging, richly detailed biography of a family of Norwegian immigrant homesteaders in eastern North Dakota in the late 1800s. Educator and world traveler Aagot Raaen wrote this reminiscence late in her life. Like Giants in the Earth and Old Jules, Grass of the Earth deals frankly with a darker side of pioneer life on the prairie.

Series: Borealis Books

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press (May 15, 1994)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0873512952

ISBN-13: 978-0873512954

Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches

Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,259,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #77 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Scandinavian #542 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > Midwest #725 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Immigrants

The first half of the 20th century saw a slew of books detailing the pioneer experience in homesteading the American Plains and West during the last half of the 19th century.The most famous, of course, is the novelization of Laura Ingalls Wilder's life on the Great Plains in "The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set" series (1932). And for a perspective on the Texas frontier, there is "Interwoven: A Pioneer Chronicle (Revised: 4th Edition)" (1936). GRASS OF THE EARTH, published in 1950, shares the immigrant experience in settling the inhospitable Dakota Territories, just east of the Great Plains.These historical memoirs survive today because, through the story of a family, they detail an epoch of a human will and sacrifice that collectively triumphed over seemingly insurmountable challenges and obstacles. Author Aagot Raaen vividly brings to life the daily hardships required of homesteading pioneers: the isolation, the deprivations, the fierce and unpredictable weather, the fragility of health and wellness and the constant worries about food and money.At the same time, she describes the reassuring rhythm of family life, the bonds of faith and community and the grubstake that anchors their existence. These people believed in the land, God and family and spent every single moment of their day affirming those tenets. Raaen gives rich descriptions of farming and family life on the rugged frontier.It's a sober book that looks at the immigrant experience as a call of duty but reads like a tale of adventure. The author's optimistic voice sustains the brutal realism of this early American journey.

After reading this book, I realized the strength, the stoicism, and the abilities of my ancestors to accept life and deal with it. The way the author simply and without emotion related the events of her childhood and adulthood was a very loud voice that spoke of the characters of these pioneer women who had to "make do." Her father's drinking, which truly affected everyone's future, and their determination to "owe no man anything" left me a bit disconcerted. I thought the manner of writing was just perfect, because it revealed the nature of the characters.

Book was received in a timely manner. Book was reasonably prices and in great condition. I was a little disappointed in the writing itself. Thought it would be more like Giants in the Earth. Does give interesting detail about specifics on how activities were accomplished.

Well written! I also read her second book!

I enjoyed the stories of pioneer life

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