Perhaps Northfield's most famous resident was Ole Edvart Rolvaag
(1876-1931), author of the novel "Giants in the Earth".
Rolvaag emigrated to South Dakota at the age of 20 and worked on
the family farm for two years before enrolling at Augustana Academy
in Canton, graduating in 1901. From there he came to St. Olaf
College obtaining a BA in 1905, and an MA in 1910, and teaching
here from 1906 until his death at age 55.
His influential novel, "Giants in the Earth", part of a trilogy,
is a classic example of realism including the harshness and
loneliness of pioneer life on the prairie as well as the
tribulations of trying to keep an immigrant family together in a
new world. He was knighted in Norway in 1926; the main library at
St. Olaf bears his name. His son, Karl, served as Lt. Gov. of MN
1955-63 and as Gov. 1963-67.
"Giants in the Earth" was written originally in Norwegian in
1924 at a cabin in northern MN, translated in 1927, and widely
acclaimed in both countries. For years it was required reading both
at St. Olaf and at many high schools throughout MN and SD.