ABSTRACT
Lumberjacks played a very important part in the rapid transformation of Sweden from a peasant society to a modern industrial state. The egalitarian, individualistic, and competitive life in the forests in winter formed a sharp contrast to the increasing hierarchization of the bygd areas which the men went back to in the summers. It was striking that the loggers consistently avoided anything that could contribute to the formation of a hierarchy among them. The livelihood of farmers was based on a guaranteed subsistence, although they often lacked cash, while the loggers’ way of living was based on the flow of money and the purchase of commodities of industrial, and often foreign origin. Many stories concentrate on the physical strength of the hero and tales of fights during his summer sprees in town. The cleverness and special personalities of the characters were inner qualities, which would not be noticed by anybody prejudiced by external and conventional standards.
