Pelle the Conqueror — Complete

"Pelle the Conqueror" by Martin Andersen Nexø is a story taking place in the early 1900s, chronicling the life of Pelle, a young boy who moves with his father from rural Sweden to Copenhagen in search of a better life, but instead, encounters the hard reality of the working class. The book emphasizes the hardships and hopes of working-class people during the rise of the labor movement, highlighting Pelle's journey as he faces the challenges of a new country and the struggle to make ends meet. The story begins as they arrive on the first of May in 1877 at a lively harbor where they hope to build a stable future. The stark contrast between Pelle’s youthful wonder and his father’s anxieties foreshadows the daunting experiences they will encounter and lays the foundation for exploring class differences and the search for identity.