Together with the first novel, it was adapted as a film The Emigrants (1971), directed by Jan Troell.

A sequel based on the third and fourth novels was released in 1972.

The novel describes the journey of the Swedish Nilsson family (from The Emigrants) from New York City, New York, where they had landed, to Taylors Falls, Minnesota.

There, the Nilssons started building a dwelling and structures for a farm.

Robert, Karl-Oskar's younger brother, takes off for California with his friend Arvid to join the search for gold to join the Gold Rush.