The Norwegian’s Diary

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In the closing days of the 20th century, author Daniel Pawley discovered a Norwegian-American immigrant's diary from a century earlier while browsing for old books at a Minnesota garage sale. With fascination, he read the diary from cover to cover, turned the experience into a prize-winning magazine article, and then filed it away in memory. More than two decades later, however, as an immigrant himself, from America to Portugal, he rediscovered the diary and his original notes, marveling at topics and themes all immigrants have in common. Both the excitement and insecurity of transitioning to a new culture and way of life stood out to him, even though the original diary told the story of a man whose life was characterized by far greater problems experienced by immigrants to America in earlier times. The daily torture of pre-labor-union industrial life, as well as the tragedies of family rearing amid poor economic conditions, stand out in this regard, raising questions about America's past, present, and perhaps future, too. This is a story worth revisiting by all who have interests in America or immigration and by anyone who has felt trapped by circumstances but energized by life-changing journeys of hope and promise.