The Emigrants: Difference between revisions

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A novel suite by Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg, considered among the finest pieces of Swedish litterature. The books have been translated into more than twenty languages, including English. The series consists of four books:

 

* ''The Emigrants''

The series has a lot of gut-wrenching moments, having many tragedies befall the various characters. It gives an honest portrayal of life in the mid-19th century and lets you get to know the characters really well. It is also very funny at times, with some witty dialogue and a character who loves to tell dirty stories. And the love story between Karl Oskar and Kristina is one of the simplest yet most captivating ones ever put on paper.

 

Two films were made, one in 1971 (''The Emigrants'') and one in 1972 (''Unto a Good Land''). The films are in Swedish, starring Max von Sydow as Karl Oskar, Liv Ullman as Kristina (earned her an [[Academy Award]] nomination), Monica Zetterlund as Ulrika and several high ranking Swedish actors in the supporting cast. The films are generally considered among the finest in Swedish film making.

 

In 1995 a stage musical based on the books premiered, titled ''Kristina från Duvemåla'' (the English translation is simply known as ''Kristina''), written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of [[ABBA]]. The show became a huge success and made stars out of Helen Sjöholm (Kristina) and Peter Jöback (Robert), the former so beloved in the role that she was the only Swedish cast member in the concert version of the English translation (reprising her role as Kristina). The English translation premiered in concert in 2009, getting mixed reviews both from fans of the original and from reviewers who had never seen the show before.

=== The books provide examples of: ===

* [[Adult Fear]]: Kristina and Karl Oskar lose one child to starvation and almost lose another when she walks off in a crowd. They also come close to losing a son in a snowstorm.

** Arguably Inga-Lena. When Danjel believes himself to be enlightened and righteous he tells his wife they cannot have sex anymore since they are not married in the eyes of God when she is not enlightened. Eventually she basically pretends to have been "enlightened" also and to share his beliefs and they once again live as husband and wife.

* [[Daddy's Girl]]: Anna.

* [[Determinator]]: Ulrika. She's determined to get a better life for herself and determined not to let her daughter suffer because Ulrika used to be a prostitute.

** Robert in his quest for gold.

* [[Happily Married]]: Many of the couples in the books (though far from all), but Karl Oskar and Kristina especially.

* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Robert and Arvid.

* [[How Do You Like Them Apples?]]: Kristina's astrakan apple tree carries great significance.

* [[The Migration]]

* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Robert and Arvid.

* [[How Do You Like Them Apples?]]: The apples from Kristina's apple tree. Towards the end of the movie {{spoiler|the apples are finally ripe and Karl Oskar picks the first one for her when she lays dying. She holds the apple, takes a small bite and cries that she is home. Before she can swallow she dies, the apple falling from her hand.}}

* [[Playing Against Type]]: Hasse Alfredsson, one of Sweden's most beloved comedians, played Jonas Petter. While Jonas Petter delivers some comic relief from time to time for the most part it is a dramatic role far from the comedy Alfredsson is normally associated with.

* [[Real Life Relative]]: Ulrika and her daughter Elin are played by real life mother and daughter Monica and Eva-Lena Zetterlund.

* [[Character Title]]: The musical puts its main focus on Kristina.

* [[Dark Reprise]]: The reprise of ''Down to the Sea''.

* [[Death Song]]: {{spoiler|Robert}} gets one, as does {{spoiler|Kristina}}.

* [[Determinator]]: Ulrika in her song ''Never''.

 

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[[Category:Historical Fiction Literature]]