Hero Tales of the Far North

"Hero Tales of the Far North" by Jacob A. Riis is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the legendary figures from Norse history and their remarkable feats, illustrating the spirit of heroism that shaped the identities of Northern peoples. At the start of the book, Riis introduces the concept of heroes within the context of immigration and cultural identity. He reflects on how immigrants to America often leave behind the legacies of their homelands and stresses the importance of remembering and cherishing those historical figures that embody their heritage. The opening highlights the struggle for mutual understanding between different cultures, setting the stage for the stories of celebrated heroes like Peder Tordenskjold—admired for his bravery at sea—and Hans Egede, whose missionary endeavors in Greenland symbolize the rich, albeit sometimes tumultuous, cultural history of the North. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jacob August Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, "muck-raking" journalist, and social documentary photographer. He contributed significantly to the cause of urban reform in the United States of America at the turn of the twentieth century. He is known for using his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City; those impoverished New Yorkers were the subject of most of his prolific writings and photography. He endorsed the implementation of "model tenements" in New York with the help of humanitarian Lawrence Veiller. He was an early proponent of the newly practicable casual photography and one of the first to adopt photographic flash. While living in New York, Riis experienced poverty and became a police reporter writing about the quality of life in the slums. He attempted to alleviate the poor living conditions of poor people by exposing these conditions to the middle and upper classes.