One of Life's Slaves

"One of Life's Slaves" by Jonas Lie is a story set in Christiania during the late 1800s about a man named Nikolai and his mother Barbara, who face many challenges, including poverty and judgement from society. The book examines tough topics like sorrow and who we are, especially when life is hard. Starting with Barbara, who works as a nurse to take care of her son, even though she struggles, and as the story continues, it shows the sacrifices she makes and how Nikolai is affected by his surroundings and upbringing. Barbara's tough decisions for survival create a feeling of desperation, which sets the scene for Nikolai’s future difficulties and shows how fate and society can control a person's life.