From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Giants in the Earth

O.E. Rølvaag,

Lincoln Colcord (Translator/Introduction)

Start date: October 1, 2023

Finish date: December 31, 2023

Discussion: Frontier Western Classics

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Frontier Western Classics

* 2025: FWC Reading Schedule
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 39 posts · 94 views

last updated Nov 17, 2024 11:53AM

* FWC: Frontier, Western, Adventure Classics?
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last updated Jun 07, 2025 07:17AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 27, 2023 ForestGardenGal rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-fiction, 1800-1900-victorian-colonialism, subject-psychology, type-frontier-western, theme-homesteading, genre-historical-fiction, theme-native-american, location-norway, theme-survival, classics-published-50-years-ago

I found this book to be very easy to read, it flows quickly once you become accustomed to the characters and situation. The author is primarily concerned with the mental costs and psychological flexibility needed to successfully survive in the frontier and create a new homestead settlement in a location remote from all familiar society. The author acknowledges the obstinacy that can come from devotion and trust in a higher power, and how that may have been useful for pioneers, but he also stress I found this book to be very easy to read, it flows quickly once you become accustomed to the characters and situation. The author is primarily concerned with the mental costs and psychological flexibility needed to successfully survive in the frontier and create a new homestead settlement in a location remote from all familiar society. The author acknowledges the obstinacy that can come from devotion and trust in a higher power, and how that may have been useful for pioneers, but he also stresses the psychological inflexibility caused by rigid adherence to religion which in conjunction with severe loneliness and seemingly insurmountable obstacles caused so many pioneers to lose hope, lose their sanity, and perish- some by their own hands, some through lack of adequate preparations, some through foolish decisions, and some by the hands or foolish decisions of others.

While this book was an easy read, at the same time I was disturbed by the offhanded treatment of the Native Americans. I understand the fear felt by the pioneers; they put themselves in a vulnerable place and didn't understand the language or culture of the Native Americans. They respected the Native Americans enough to trade with them, and to give medical assistance when they saw a need. However, the settlers made such a ruckus over claim jumping and destruction of landmarks by other settlers, but never is it suggested or mentioned that they might not have a right to the property at all- even when they discovered they were claiming land containing a burial mound. Was this willful blindness or selfishness? Did these supposedly God fearing people really not consider the Native Americans to be other children of their God? Or even possibly some of the lost tribes from their very own Bible? I know that this was somehow seen as an acceptable practice, but I do not believe that it could possibly have gone unquestioned by all. Somebody must have seen the hypocrisy. And one would think that the Norwegians, with their fear of trolls and other mythologies, might have at least hesitated before disturbing burial grounds.

Also, no spoilers, but I think the ending was horribly inconsistent with Per Hansa's character.

PG for themes of extreme fear for survival and religious hysteria. No violence, sexual content, or language. ...more

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