Winter 2011 - Norwegian-American Historical Association - St. Olaf ...

Page 11B < < 8 R 2 C U 2 D - C B 9 A B ? 2 . ; P C B @ A < Y @ < RN < ? D . F By Todd NicholOur interest in the Norwegian-American Historical Associationis primarily with the immigrantexperience. It is, however,important for us occasionallyto take note of studies ofcontemporary Norway. In the caseof Margaret Hayford O’Leary’sCulture and Customs of Norwaywe have three good reasonsto do so. First, the author is astalwart, longtime member of theAssociation well known to manyreaders of our newsletter. Second,this is a very fine book. Third,a sharpened sense of modernNorway will give those interestedin the history of immigrationa fuller awareness of how verydifferent late nineteenth and earlytwentieth century Norway wasfrom the nation of the present.Many of the immigrants who leftNorway in the nineteenth centuryknew a song that began this way:Farewell, Norway, and God blessthee.Stern and sever thou wert always,But as a mother I honor thee,Even though thou skimped mybread.the place to go to find out. Readerswill quickly discover that theauthor is not only well informedbut that she writes with theawareness and critical sympathyof someone who has been muchin Norway over long periods oftime. Opening chapters traversetopics traditional to a book likethis including geography, history,politics, and religion. Thestrength of the book here is thatthese chapters are not only basedon solid research, but that they arebriskly up-to-date. Succeedingchapters cover a variety of socialand cultural patterns. Finalchapters offer an extended look atcreativity and the arts in Norway.One book on contemporaryNorway to read, to recommendto a friend, or to give to someoneseeking to get acquainted withmodern Norway? This is thebook.- Todd Nichol, NAHA EditorIf the immigrants who sang thissong, could return to Norwayin the present, they would bestartled, indeed. They would findit a wealthy land to which moreimmigrants come than emigrantsleave. What has changed?Margaret Hayford O’Leary’s bookCulture and Customs of Norway isMargaret Hayford O’Leary, Cultureand Customs of Norway. SantaBarbara, California: GreenwoodPress, 2010.