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In Cod We Trust Living the Norwegian Dream Eric Dregni PRESS: EVENTS: |
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A vivid portrayal of modern Norway through the eyes of a fourth-generation Norwegian American from Minnesota. Eric Dregni’s great-grandfather Ellef fled Norway in 1893 when it was the poorest country in Europe. More than one hundred years later, his great-grandson traveled back to find that—mostly due to oil and natural gas discoveries—it is now the richest. The circumstances of his return were serendipitous, as the notice that Dregni won a Fulbright Fellowship to go there arrived the same week as the knowledge that his wife Katy was pregnant. Braving a birth abroad and benefiting from a remarkably generous health care system, the Dregnis’ family came full circle when their son Eilif was born in Norway. In this cross-cultural memoir, Dregni tells the hair-raising, hilarious, and sometimes poignant stories of his family’s yearlong Norwegian experiment. Among the exploits he details are staying warm in a remote grass-roofed hytte (hut), surviving a dinner of rakfisk (fermented fish) thanks to 80-proof aquavit, and identifying his great-grandfather’s house in the Lusterfjord only to find out it had been crushed by a boulder and then swept away by a river. To subsist on a student stipend, he rides the meat bus to Sweden for cheap salami with a busload of knitting pensioners. A week later, he and his wife travel to the Lofoten Islands and gnaw on klippefisk (dried cod) while cats follow them through the streets. Dregni’s Scandinavian roots do little to prepare him and his family for the year in Trondheim eating herring cakes, obeying the conformist Janteloven (Jante’s law), and enduring the mørketid (dark time). In Cod We Trust is one Minnesota family’s spirited excursion into Scandinavian life. The land of the midnight sun is far stranger than they previously thought, and their encounters show that there is much we can learn from its unique and surprising culture. “A hilariously fun and moving read for anyone who has dreamed of returning to the Norwegian homeland.” —Walter Mondale “Eric Dregni's spirited travel memoir to Norway joins that classic American genre—the quest tale in search of family and ethnic roots. It's a special pleasure to see the Scandinavian immigration story teased out here with wit and acuity, the immigrant going the other way. In Cod We Trust is the story of a man not only looking for his family past but welcoming the next generation.” —Patricia Hampl “Dregni does encounter some unexpected obstacles in his ultimate quest in search of his family's homeland, and the answers he hoped to discover are not exactly what he expected. But the journey remains a rewarding one for the reader, who is treated to a quirky, yet clear-eyed glimpse at the immigrant experience—in reverse.” —Minneapolis Observer Quarterly “Dregni's charming read will resonate with anyone who has dreamed of tracing their ancestry.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune “Dregni’s writing is understated yet vivid and very funny. Solidly researched, rich in information about modern day life in a Norwegian village, and highly entertaining, In Cod We Trust well represents the genre of creative nonfiction.” —The Corresponder “Absolutely delightful. A ‘don’t miss’ read for anyone with even a little bit of interest in Norway today.” —Avisen “The experience of living a year in Norway is told with refreshing wit, comedy and humility.” —White Bear Press “Dregni’s humor and enthusiasm bring a creative view of the Norwegian world to the reader. This is a must read for those planning a trip to Norway.” —Minnesota History Eric Dregni teaches creative writing at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Italian at Hamline University and at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of several books, including Minnesota Marvels (Minnesota, 2001) and Midwest Marvels (Minnesota, 2006). 216 pages | 1 b&w photo, 1 map | 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 | 2008
A Cambridge Education Acknowledgments Snakker Du Norsk?
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$22.95 cloth/jacket