Giants in the Earth (Harper's Modern Classics)

xxxiv, 468 pp. Set against the unforgiving plains of the Dakota Territory in 1873, Giants in the Earth is a timeless tale of resilience, hope, and heartache. Per Hansa and his wife Beret, Norwegian immigrants yearning for a fresh start, stake their claim on the frontier alongside other immigrant families. Together, they battle the harsh realities of pioneer life: brutal winters, relentless locust swarms, poverty, and the overwhelming isolation of an unfamiliar land. But as the settlers carve out a new existence, cultural divides, homesickness, and the inevitable pull of change threaten their fragile dreams. Richly drawn and deeply moving, Rolvaag's masterpiece illuminates the strength and sacrifice required to build a life in a strange and unyielding world. First published in Norwegian and later translated into English, Giants in the Earth forms the cornerstone of a trilogy that chronicles the immigrant experience in America. A compelling blend of history and human drama, this novel is as enduring as the prairie it describes. "Ole Edvart Rolvaag (April 22, 1876 - November 5, 1931) was an American novelist and professor. He became well known for his writings on the Norwegian American immigrant experience. Rolvaag is most frequently associated with Giants in the Earth, his award winning, epic novel of Norwegian immigrant homesteaders in Dakota Territory."