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23 April, 2008
Vallkulla
a
novel with genealogy research as a basis
It is maybe not unusual in Sweden that genealogy is the basis of a
novel. To me, though, it´s the very first time I've read a novel
in English, in which an earlier unknown family history from Dalarna is
the basis.
Jerry Revelle in Elk Mound, Wisconsin and with his roots in Järna
parish, has written a fascinating family story, beginning with a
document from a Swedish district court that was found in a locked chest
in the attic of his grandparents´ house in the little Järna
colony of Garden Valley. The document describes the judgement of
a wealthy young Swedish man who denied that he was the father of a
little girl. He casts off his daughter and her mother and they
eventually emigrate to America.
No person ever told about this story - it was looked upon as a shame, a
scandal. During my early genealogy work, I found the paper and
translated it; I was also able to connect the American cousins with
their relatives in Sweden. It was in so many ways, a "story
filled with sunshine". The family of the man, who didn´t
want to take the responsibility for his woman and daughter, welcomed
their American relatives with open arms,over one hundred years later.
There are now many visits to the family, on both sides of the ocean.
The title "Vallkulla" tells us that the novel deals with the
"fäbodmiljöer" (people bringing their cows to some wooden
areas during summer time). This book is the first of four, which
eventually lead us into the emigration period in the late 19th century.
In the spring of 2007 Jerry Revelle published his book "My
Enemy´s Child" where the theme was the Nazi period. The book has
been a success and the third edition is soon all sold out. In the
summer of 2008 the second and third books in the "Järna suite"
will be printed. "Vallkulla" tells us of the life of an unmarried
mother. The opinion of illegitimate affairs was as we all know not very
merciful.
Jerry Revelle, author, fiddler and active in the Scandinavian
organization Norden Folk has, with the help of Swedish church books,
interviews, studies at archives and visits at different places in
Järna parish, got solid knowledge for his work. With the right of
a fictitious writer he has created situations, people and settings,
which maybe can´t always be found in the orginal sources
but which give a sense of credibility. He uses quite a lot of
expressions from studies of ethnology and he has enclosed a word list
to understand them.
I have talked to some readers in America who look upon his use of
dialectal words and sentences as "exotic". It gives a Swedish
touch to the text. Personally I am hesitant to condone the use them, as
they sometimes are incorrect and can be recognized as "artifical" to
the modern Swedish speaker.
The cover photograph and the vignettes of the chapters have all been
taken by Therese Nahlbom of nahlboms Foto, in Gagnef, Sweden. I wish
there had been more room for larger photos as they are very good.
The total impression of the novel "Vallkulla" is very positive.
It´s an exciting story written in a very tender-hearted way. I do
wish Jerry Revelle good luck with his future books. To find more about
Jerry Revelle and his publications, please turn to www.smultron-pub.com.
Margaretha
Hedblom, Malung, Dalarna
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