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The Tale of the Homeland: Swedish Life Before Emigration
Before they left, they lived.
This is the story of Sweden itself—the kitchens, fields, and midsummer nights your ancestors carried in their hearts when they crossed the ocean.
The Tale of the Homeland is a vivid blend of history and storytelling, bringing 19th-century Sweden to life through two unforgettable
➤ An evocative, fact-rich journey through daily life—season by season, room by room, province by province.
➤ Intimate fictional vignettes that let you walk the farm roads, sit at the hearth, and feel the rhythm of life before emigration.
Meet a family threshing grain at harvest. Hear church bells at Julotta and fiddles at Midsummer. Step into kitchens where rye bread warms and letters from America arrive with hope—or heartbreak. These are not distant details; they are the heartbeat of the homeland itself.
Perfect for family historians, Swedish-American readers, and lovers of immersive storytelling, The Tale of the Homelandcompletes the circle begun in The Tale of the Journey and The Tale of Ellis Island. If you’ve ever wondered what life was really like before they left, this book will take you there.
Come home to the world your ancestors carried with them.
This is the story of Sweden itself—the kitchens, fields, and midsummer nights your ancestors carried in their hearts when they crossed the ocean.
The Tale of the Homeland is a vivid blend of history and storytelling, bringing 19th-century Sweden to life through two unforgettable
➤ An evocative, fact-rich journey through daily life—season by season, room by room, province by province.
➤ Intimate fictional vignettes that let you walk the farm roads, sit at the hearth, and feel the rhythm of life before emigration.
Meet a family threshing grain at harvest. Hear church bells at Julotta and fiddles at Midsummer. Step into kitchens where rye bread warms and letters from America arrive with hope—or heartbreak. These are not distant details; they are the heartbeat of the homeland itself.
Perfect for family historians, Swedish-American readers, and lovers of immersive storytelling, The Tale of the Homelandcompletes the circle begun in The Tale of the Journey and The Tale of Ellis Island. If you’ve ever wondered what life was really like before they left, this book will take you there.
Come home to the world your ancestors carried with them.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 6, 2025
every sentence is a gem
The author in many ways gives a voice to a great grandmother I never met, who left Leksand in 1889 and helped establish the Minnesota Iron Range town of Mesaba. The values that define me and everyday habits spring out of the pages of her books. I feel such a connection to my Swedish roots.
The author in many ways gives a voice to a great grandmother I never met, who left Leksand in 1889 and helped establish the Minnesota Iron Range town of Mesaba. The values that define me and everyday habits spring out of the pages of her books. I feel such a connection to my Swedish roots.
Displaying 1 of 1 review