The Cabin in the Mountains: A Norwegian Odyssey

by Robert Ferguson

The wooden holiday cabin, or hytte, is a staple of Norwegian life. Robert Ferguson, author of Scandinavians , explores the significance of a national icon in this charming, affectionate history. Turf-roofed and wooden-built, offering fresh clean air, peace, isolation, and the promise of a day's wood-chopping, hiking, or snow-clearing amid landscapes of great beauty, the hytte—or wooden cabin home—is a crucial part of the national identity of every Norwegian. In 2016, Robert Ferguson and his wife bought a piece of land high up in the Hardangervidda, the plateau that dominates south-central Norway, and on it they built such a hytte. For Ferguson, the hytte represented the realisation of a dream that first brought him to Norway from England more than thirty years ago. As the cabin takes shape he learns, through conversations with friends and cabin-builders, the cultural history of modern Norway. He learns of the changing traditions attached to these cabin homes for native Norwegians as they try to marry their new-found urban affluence to their past as a tight-knit, impoverished rural community-nation. Along the way he also describes the intense and mutually rewarding relationship that arose between the colonial Norwegians and their wealthy, imperialist British neighbours across the North Sea in the 19th and 20th centuries; how the British 'salmon-lords' showed them another way of looking at their great rivers, and how English climbers introduced them to a new way of thinking about their mountains.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

336 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ciaran Chittock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so I liked the idea behind the book.

The idea of a book about a niche are of a niche culture is fascinating i.e. Norwegian Cabin living.

The actual delivery was pretty poor. I don't think the writing is particularly good.
Many times when reading about social situations he was in I struggled to relate thr reason why this part of the story was included and how it relates to Norwegian national identity.

A good premise, not so hot writing.
4/10.

[Nadia Zeemeeuw · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was somehow chaotic but charming journey through idea of Norway as a place to find some peace and quiet. Many fascinating details of different aspects of Norwegian life and culture, some good musings about life and history. Solid good read.

[Jess Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book. It was interesting to read about some things I saw myself when visiting Norway. Sometimes Ferguson goes off on tangents that I either couldn't relate to or didn't want to spend the energy following.

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 really - part The Salt Path, part My Year of Living Danishly, part historical/ literary. Good bit of escapism rooted in reality. 70yo brit lived in Norway most of his life living out his dream in the mountains but actually a new build development with local supermarket, Facebook group, football results etc. Good to read someone of very different demographic to me. Liked that would write Norwegian words and I could practice translating before reading his translation for corrections. Norwegian and Danish very similar linguistically. Sometimes a bit dry but other bits were honest and lovely. Liked reading about the snow and have had a Knut Hamsen on shelf for a while will definitely read soon. Lots of other Norwegian cultural references - art, music, cars, nature, books. Wasn't enamoured by the photos and although seemed very keen on his wife not much personality revealed. Well written but for me I'll stick to Knausgård.

[Adam Deverell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A literary travelogue about the Norwegian "hytte" culture of cabin building and escaping the city for the mountains on the weekend.

Thankfully this is less a book that goes into every detail about constructing wooden chalets and far more about Norwegian culture, history and ecology: rock climbing, history, ecology and the mountains, philosophy and living in Norway as an expat.

It had an appealing, though sometimes slow, literary quality. Ferguson skips nicely through his experiences building his getaway. I enjoyed his discussions about everyday life in Norway. Definitely makes it an appealing place to visit and I felt I knew more about the culture of Norway after finishing it.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more 3.5. Having stayed in a Norwegian cabin, I was familiar with the affinity many people have for them. This book was just a bit slow with the writer exploring areas of Norwegian politics, culture and national identity but skimming over the rudimentary simple joys of cabin life. His own cabin was simply bought and didn't come with any intimate family history or affection. All in all, a little drier than expected.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone married to an individual with Norwegian descent (and my minuscule 3% tie to Norway), it was enlightening to read about cabin and all other aspects of life there. I enjoyed that each chapter dipped into another part of Norwegian history, literature, politics, and so on. Held my interest throughout.

[Clytee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me some Norwegian history (which I am always craving) and some insight to modern Norwegian culture. It was interesting, but a little self-obsessed. I don’t like winter and snow enough to want to ever live in Norway! A great place to visit in the summer though!!

[Jake · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with the other reviews. The idea was great! Norwegian cabin culture is interesting to me. The book however is basically un-romanticicing it. Robert is a boring writer who has a boring life (no offense).

[JudithCollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you want to build a snowman?

[Lottie Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great bit of escapism. A written version of slow TV and enjoyed it for all the same reasons.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivating and interesting. Escaped winter in the UK by transporting myself into Norweigan summers.

[Katie Baker]

A strangely captivating book, ostensibly about a man fulfilling his dream of a Norwegian cabin in the mountains but actually about Norwegian culture and history. A love story of a man for a country.

[Audrey Webster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just author’s free flowing thoughts. Had trouble getting through it.

[Ross Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Read while in a cabin in Norway, which made it more enjoyable. Not show-stopping. A nice holiday-read.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd cultural history of Norway.

[Becky Barrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

In parts, wonderful and fascinating on the subject of Norwegian life, but Ferguson goes off on tangents too often which I found myself skipping as they were too detailed and dull.