Exhibition: The Life and Work of Ole Edvart Rølvaag

Ole Edvart Rølvaag emigrated from Dønna to the USA in the late 1800s. There, he wrote several novels about emigrating from Norway and being an immigrant in the USA during that time. At the Dønna exhibition, you can learn more about the author’s life and work and see the complete collection of Ole Edvart Rølvaag’s first editions.

The exhibition at Dønna Library is beautifully set up with information about the author’s upbringing in Dønna, his journey to the USA, and his life as an emigrant and immigrant. It provides an interesting glimpse into a time when life in Norway could be hard, while the American Dream shone brightly with the promise of land and wealth in the distance.

Ole Edvart Rølvaag (1876-1931) came from humble beginnings in Dønna and emigrated to America at the age of 20, where he became a professor and author. He is best known for the novels he wrote about Norwegian settlers in the USA, which have earned him an important place in both Norwegian and American literary history. He also worked diligently to preserve the Norwegian cultural heritage in the new country.

Rølvaag was also a co-founder and the first secretary of the Norwegian-American Historical Association in 1925.