In 1873 an extended family of poverty-stricken farmers from a remote Norwegian farm took their lives in their hands and emigrated to New Zealand. Seventeen year old Johanna and her lover Christian came from Pasotorpet a tiny rock strewn farm in the forests of skara with dreams of a prosperous new life. Through Johanna's eyes we see the daunting reality of the Seventy-Mile-Bush. Grinding poverty dense impenetrable bush loneliness and years of back-breaking toil as they carved lives and homes from amongst the giant trees. Ravaged by flood and a devastating fire which saw their first fifteen years of labour destroyed in a single day Johanna and Christian battled on through years of depression poverty and disease as their new land claimed four of their children. O.M. Andresen's moving depiction of their story has been translated by Johan Bonnevie who met Johanna when she was 92 near the end of her long and eventful life.