Historical Fiction on a Pioneer Immigrant: ‘Honoring Anna’

With captivating prose and unflinching detail, Douglas Hoff shares the life story of a woman from his family history.

This multi-volume historical fiction follows the life story of Anna, a Norwegian immigrant to America.

Douglas Hoff’s series about Norwegian immigrants in the early 20th century is timeless in its appeal. These coming-of-age, true stories in novel form, while perfect for young adults, are books that older adults can also enjoy immensely. I certainly did.

“Honoring Anna” and its sequel, “Honoring Anna, Book II: The Winds of Time,” follow three Norwegian immigrants who come to the United States around 1900. The book is based on research the author did on Anna, his wife’s grandmother. The story skillfully tells of Anna’s extraordinary life and the two men, who also left Norway, whom she loved.

‘Honoring Anna’

The first book begins with a description of the main characters’ lives in Norway. Anna’s mother died when she was quite young. She dreamed of escaping from a hated stepmother and her estranged father, a tyrant, to America.