Nowadays, Scandinavian countries are generally seen as prosperous, progressive and egalitarian societies. The citizens of these nations are largely urbanized and receive significant social assistance from the welfare state. However, life in 19th century Scandinavia was markedly different. Scandinavian social life in the 1800s was defined by its provincial character, as most inhabitants resided in rural farming communities. Society as a whole was highly stratified: women had very limited social and economic opportunities, and poverty was widespread among ordinary Scandinavian citizens. Therefore, life in 19th century Scandinavia was generally difficult, and this fact is revealed in books and films that chronicle social life during this time period. Although the Scandinavian nations are currently considered some of the most equal countries in the world, in the 19th century Scandinavian societies were characterized by rigid social hierarchies. As Nordstrom describes in his history of Scandinavia, those who lived in this period rarely advanced beyond the social and economic positions into which they were born (Nordstrom, 2000: 166). Vilhelm Moberg's novel The Emigrants further illustrates this point through the depiction of a rural Swedish parish in the mid-1800s. Moberg describes how generation after generation within a single family worked as farmers on the same land. He suggests that this pattern lasted for centuries, only to be interrupted by the mass migrations that occurred in the mid-19th century (Moberg, 1949: xxvii). The information presented in Nordstrom's book echoes the localized and provincial nature of the Scandinavian villages described by Moberg. Before the technological... middle of paper... and the common worker. Wealth and privilege were dictated primarily by birth and enjoyed only by a select few. The agrarian masses, however, generally endured extreme poverty and deprivation. Women's lives were also tremendously difficult, as they had essentially zero social or economic independence from men and minimal educational opportunities. The generally poor quality of life faced by most 19th-century Scandinavians inspired many of these citizens to seek a better existence by immigrating to America. Ironically, the countries left behind by these long-suffering immigrants are generally believed to have achieved a much higher quality of life than that experienced by the average American. Considering the harsh life endured by most Scandinavians in the 1800s, the progress made in this region over the last century is truly remarkable.