Ole: The Saga of a Norwegian Immigrant in America

by Verlyn Hofer

Ole Ulberg was just eight years old when he boarded a sailing vessel, along with his family and nearly four hundred other emigrants, bound for the North American continent in 1868. Too poor to afford passage on a steamship, this was the only way the Ulberg family could manage to begin their quest from Norway to their promised land of America. Thus began the saga of Ole Ulberg. A young boy, stunted in growth, but remarkably quick-witted and hungry for adventure, Ole’s journey crosses oceans, continents, languages, cultures, and vast wildernesses of his times. In a quest for a better life in America, Ole and his family must endure many hardships. From a shipwreck in Ireland, a journey by train across a continent, and settling a homestead on the open prairie of Dakota Territory – the story is not one of ease and comfort. Ole’s story is certainly unique. But in a broader sense, he was representative of a tough breed people who were willing to work, suffer, and accept challenges in their quest to realize the promise of America for themselves and their families. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were not mere slogans, but rather ideals to be earned, lived, and passed down to future generations.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2017

Reviews

[carol davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from a Norwegian father who lost his father as a very young child, I loved it. He too grew up in a farming community but in Illinois. So for me it reminded me of my now gone father's stories and of Aunt Tillie and Uncle Ole. The book brought back many wonderful memories.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

This is a very sweet true story of a family of early American settlers. The writing is amateurish, which can be a little distracting.

[Darren Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might read like a genealogy piece but found a compelling narrative of one immigrant's efforts to establish a homestead. S0lid writing.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book