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mitchconquer's review
5.0
Vilhelm Moberg is like a predecesor to Howard Zinn un that he writes with obvious passion for those who are typically overlooked in histories. His prose are also so clear and elegant I could read it all day.
doriastories's review
4.0
Even read in translation, and at a distance of several decades, the clear writing and succinct explanations given in this book of numerous significant episodes and personalities drawn from early Swedish history are well worth reading. I found it to be informative and interesting, a kind of People's History - drawn with a broad brush - of Sweden, with a distinct focus on the life of non-noble, ordinary people, where the historical record allows light to shine on their doings. I got the distinct impression that Moberg's emphases and interests departed widely from previously held notions, especially concerning the relative "goodness" of certain noble and royal personages. His concern was primarily for the consequences of monarchs' acts upon the lives of ordinary Swedes, not for their supposed "nobility" or lack thereof. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in Swedish history.
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