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The Cotter's Son: A Story from Sigdal

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I see that this book is not very popular, but that should not be the case! When i first flipped through the book, i thought "oh goodness, another one of these" - For it's about 2 kids (a girl and a boy) who grow up together and become very good friends and of course, fall in love, but the girl's father doesn't approve because they are of different economic class. But actually, this book is interesting! The wording is very different from what is in common books published, because it's a translation. But even the wording becomes attractive. The book is longer than it seems, even with huge font. Ole, the boy, is brought up poor, and eventually leaves to America to try and prosper. Meanwhile, Marie, the girl, stays in Norway and suffers from her Father's emotional abuse. In the end, this book is an adventure, and you completely sympathize with, and begin to love the characters!

The Cotter's Son: A Story from Sigdal
By H. A. Foss
Translated by Joel G. Winkjer

One of Norway's greatest literary successes, The Cotter's Son (English translation of Husmannsgutten: En Fortelling Fra Sigdal) is considered to be the most popular Norwegian-American novel.

Published by Smoky Water Press

344 pages, softcover

One of Norway's greatest literary successes, The Cotter's Son (English translation of Husmannsgutten: En Fortelling Fra Sigdal) is considered to be the most popular Norwegian-American novel. Author H. A. Foss, himself a cotter's son, immigrated to the Upper Midwest in 1877 at the age of 26. In 1884 he wrote his first novel, Hussmannsgutten ?The Cotter's Son, which was serialized in the Decorah, Iowa, Norwegian language newspaper, Decorah Posten. An instant sensation, the story increased subscriptions to the struggling newspaper by thousands, placing it on firm financial ground. Sixteen editions of this book have been printed in Norwegian, attesting to its enduring appeal The English translation was first published in 1963, and now a new generation will experience the adversities and adventures of Ole Haugen, the poor cotter's son, and Marie Hovland, the rich farmer's daughter. This story is as endearing today as it was a century ago.