Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America

by Eric Dregni

Growing up with Swedish and Norwegian grandparents with a dash of Danish thrown in for balance, Eric Dregni thought Scandinavians were perfectly normal. Who doesn’t enjoy a good, healthy salad (Jell-O packed with canned fruit, colored marshmallows, and pretzels) or perhaps some cod soaked in drain cleaner as the highlights of Christmas? Only later did it dawn on him that perhaps this was just a little strange, but by then it was far too he was hooked and a dyed-in-the-wool Scandinavian himself.



But what does it actually mean to grow up Scandinavian-American or to live with these Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Danes, and Icelanders among us? In Vikings in the Attic, Dregni tracks down and explores the significant—and quite often bizarre—historic sites, tales, and traditions of Scandinavia’s peculiar colony in the Midwest. It’s a legacy of the unique—collecting silver spoons, a suspicion of flashy clothing, shots of turpentine for the common cold, and a deep love of rhubarb pie—but also one of poor immigrants living in sod houses while their children attend college, the birth of the co-op movement, the Farmer–Labor party, and government agents spying on Scandinavian meetings hoping to nab a socialist or antiwar activist.



For all the tales his grandparents told him, Dregni quickly discovers there are quite a few they neglected to mention, such as Swedish egg coffee, which includes the eggshell, and Lutheran latte, which is Swedish coffee with ice cream. Vikings in the Attic goes beyond the lefse, lutefisk, and lusekofter (lice jacket) sweaters to reveal the little-known tales that lie beneath the surface of Nordic America. Ultimately, Dregni ends up proving by example why generations of Scandinavian-Americans have come to love and cherish these tales and traditions so dearly. Well, almost all of them.*



* See lutefisk.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Food

280 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2011

About the author

Eric Dregni has written nine books including Midwest Marvels, The Scooter Bible, Ads that Put America on Wheels, and Grazie a Dio non Sono Bolognese. As a 2004 Fulbright Fellow to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Eric researched Scandinavian culture and roots for a forthcoming book. His time is divided between Italy, Norway, and Minneapolis where he is the curator for El Dorado Conquistador Museum and guitarist for the mock-rock trio Vinnie & the Stardüsters.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked in "Cod We Trust" because I was interested in the way Dregni made both Norway and Norwegian-Americans appear exotic and familiar. That voice didn't work at all in "Vikings in the Attic." The book is positioned somewhere between essay and ethnography and fails at both. Self-deprecation in "Cod" comes off as obnoxious self-loathing in "Vikings." He harps on all the eccentricities of Scandinavian-Americans and seems to only appreciate their erstwhile socialism. The title is also a gross misnomer. The "Vikings" he looks at are certainly not hidden away in some attic to mold (although I wondered sometimes if Dregni wouldn't prefer that), but are loud and proud with their Leif Erickson statues and lutefisk, etc. And "Nordic America" should have been more narrowly defined as "Minnesota and bordering states." His excursions to any part of the Scandinavian diaspora outside the Midwest are rare. The fact that "Mormon" or "Utah" don't even show up in the index are a good indication of how little Dregni seems to be aware of where "Nordic America" might also be, not to mention the settlements in Texas, the Pacific Northwest and California.

The book seems reasonably well researched and has some great illustrations, enough so to garner it two stars.

[Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not quite the sweeping analysis of the role of the distinct cultures of Nordic immigrants in influencing the character of the United States that I was expecting. Rather than the personal investigation into the effect of these immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland on the regional cultural of the Upper Midwest (along the lines of Tony Horwitz’ Confederates in the Attic) it was really more of a simple collection of vignettes of various topics related to these cultures. In spite of the ambitious introduction, Vikings in the Attic felt a little disjointed and ephemeral, simply recounting some things strange and Scandinavian with little cohesion. While there were some interesting topics and tales included, there is little connecting the disparate stories included in the book.

Vikings in the Attic focuses almost exclusively on the Upper Midwest, particularly Minnesota and Wisconsin. The articles are arranged by topic, such as food, influential but little known Scandinavian-Americans, radical and socialistic political sentiments from immigrants, and local tourist attractions but often become repetitive, occasionally repeating themselves when articles overlap. The difficulties faced by Nordic immigrants in a landscape unfriendly to differences, and their attraction to radical, transformative political ideas (in particular the Finns) was among the most interesting. I feel that this could be the kernel of a more substantive work on how Scandinavian and Nordic mores may have had a role in shaping the culture of today’s Upper Midwest. However, for those interested in quick accounts of saunas, the Swedish-American inventor of puffed wheat, giant statues of vikings and dala horses, and snus rows, there is quite a bit of interest. In particular, this would be a good resource to use when looking for weird and wacky places to visit in the Upper Midwest, though a map would have been useful as well.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read! Lots of great information about Scandinavians in the United States, where traditions come from and how they've changed since coming here ... or stayed the same, while the "old countries" have changed.

It overwhelmingly covers the Midwest -- mostly Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin -- so if you're looking for more information about the Pacific Northwest or any other part of the country, this isn't the book for you.

I have a few nits to pick ... one is that "skit" doesn't directly translate to "shit," but rather "dirt." But that's relatively minor in a book jam-packed with interesting stuff.

Norwegians living in Norway might even be interested in this book!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a faltering of the narrative on the final page, it doesn't really tie up into much of anything, just sorta finishes that particular observation and stops. Pretty much that's the book in a nutshell, no thesis, just observations. Often amusing, intriguing observations, admittedly, but the author can't seem to decide if the book is a road trip guide or a serious meditation on the cultural connections of the Midwest to Scandanavia. Pleasant one can say for it. Though it seems with a bit of an editor's whip it could been so much more.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I read lutefisk and Akvavit one more time, that's it for this book. I just finished "In Cod We Trust" before picking up this book, and it seems as if the author simply copy and pasted swaths of pages from his first book into this one.

I wanted to like this book because of my Scandinavian background and because I think he picked up the title from Confederates in the Attic (which is a great book, a much better book than this one).

If you had to pick between reading one of Dregni's book, go for In Cod we Trust.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. Not at all what I'd thought it was going to be. Very, very light and extremely US Upper Midwest centered. Living in the Pacific Northwest I'd just hoped there would have been a bit more on this area's strong Norwegian/Swedish background and there was next to nothing on Ballard (the Scandinavian area of Seattle where my mom's Swedish family and my father's Norwegian family emigrated to).

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focused almost exclusively on Scandinavian 19s in Minnesota, I hoped it would include immigrants from Northern Illinois (where some of my grandparents immigrated to), so I was a bit disappointed. The book did contain a lot of information on the Scandinavian immigrant experience in the late 1800 19s & early 1900 19s that could be extrapolated anywhere in the Midwest.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't make it all the way through this book, although I found it amusing. The pictures were great. Some of my relatives were mid-Western Swedes, and I wonder how much they were like the people in this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched book about the Nordic culture in the Midwest. The food, customs, important people,churches etc are all included in this book. I had hoped for more actual living on the land type stories and more South Dakota settings though.

[JulieK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun tidbits (world's largest lefse! the invention of the zamboni!), plus history that added context for what I know about my own family's past. Sure needed more editing, though.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting factoids; terrible writing.

[Kirsten Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are my people. A string of cultural and historical tidbits, some of which I will use to remind my dad about our immediate forebears' shining example of egalitarianism and, gasp, liberalism.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sons of Norway Book Group selection.
I have several Eric Dregni books and always find them interesting. Vikings in the Attic was comical, heart warming for this Minnesota Norwegian Lutheran lady, informative, and full of fascinating Scandinavian Midwest History.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This account was informative but major points removed for a sympathetic/in denial viewpoint on Charles Lindbergh’s very harmful ideologies and for a dismissive view of Native people.

[Bob Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chock full of interesting facts concerning Scandinavians moving to and living in Minnesota. Presented in a fun and easy to read format. Quick read.

[Traci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. A wonderful cover but a misleading title. The book limits itself to the Midwest and is low on historic context, leaning instead on the same stereotypes over and over.