Scandinavian Club of Manawatu
by
Ø.M. Andresen, translated by Johan Bonnevie
First edition (2001) by HarperCollins sold out
Second edition (2006) by Viking Seven Seas now available at – NZ$20.00. Note the the second edition has a different cover to the first. Purchase Johanna's World
Based on a true story, Johanna's World was a best seller in Norway when it was released there in 1999 as Uredd ferd mot ukjent land ('Fearless journey to an unknown land').
It
is the story of 17 year old Johanna who leaves Norway with her family in 1873 to
emigrate to New Zealand. She dreams
of a new life with Christian, the man she loves, who shares the harrowing
journey that takes them halfway round the world.
The couple marry and settle in Norsewood but their adventure turns to
nightmare. Grinding poverty,
loneliness and years of back-breaking toil follow as they carve a life among the
giant trees of the Seventy-Mile-Bush.
O M Andresen’s moving account of Johanna’s life
has been translated by New Zealand based Johan Bonnevie, himself a Norwegian
emigrant, who met Johanna when she was 92, in her final years.
Johan describes Johanna’s
World as:
“A
historical novel about the poorest of the poor from Norway who settled in
Norsewood as assisted immigrants in the early 1870’s.
Their hopes were high. They
had escaped from poverty and hardship, but soon found themselves in a similar
poverty trap in their new land.
This
is the human face of Vogel’s Immigration Policy 130 years ago and a government
that misled and exploited its new, non-English speaking settlers.
Above
all, it is a story of courage, sheer doggedness, solidarity and love in the face
of adversity.”
The
first edition of Johanna’s World
was launched by publisher HarperCollins on 2
March 2001, at
a major gathering of people of
Scandinavian descent in Palmerston North, in conjunction with a significant exhibition (Hilsen fra
Skandinavien), relating to Scandinavian migration at 'Te Manawa' (the Science Centre and
Manawatu Museum). This exhibition ran for about nine months in 2000-1.
The second edition was released in 2006 by Viking Sevenseas NZ Ltd., P.O. Box 152, Paraparaumu, New Zealand. It contains a little more information than its predecessor.
The author, Øystein Molstad Andresen is a Norwegian journalist with 35 years experience, and has published six non-fiction books in Norway. He came to New Zealand for the launch of Johanna’s World and subsequently emigrated here with his family. He has built and runs 'Johanna's World Park' at Norsewood, where some replica historic Norwegian buildings are on display. Click here for further information on the park.
Johanna's World may be purchased through:
51 George Street, P.O. Box 727, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Phone: 64-6-356-9922 - Fax:
64-6-356-4499 - Email: books@bmbooks.co.nz