Krause has good legacy

Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Thanks, Tom Hintgen , for honoring Friberg writer Herbert Krause. I have been a Krause fan since reading about him in "A Literary History of the American West" (published in 1987), which selected Krause and O. E. Rolvaag to represent the very best literature of the Upper Midwest.

When Krause published his first novel in 1939, critics predicted that he would become one of America's essential authors. Over 65 years later, his novels and essays are still in print through the university press at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It’s nice to see that Krause's books acknowledge a host of friends and relatives who supported him and his work, including the Duenows, Millers, Kuglers, Kolles and Danielsons. He also gives recognition to the Otter Tail County Historical Society and the Fergus Falls Public Library.

Krause dedicated "Wind Without Rain" to his parents, and "The Thresher," to his mentor at St. Olaf College. But the first page of his

third novel, “The Oxcart Trail,” (1954), certainly adds context to

Buzz Lundeen’s remarks. It begins with this delightful dedication:

"TO VICTOR LUNDEEN. Friend, Philosopher, Piscatorial Expert,

Connoisseur of the Printed Line, who first suggested a tale of adventure one late-summer's afternoon when we were fishing on Minnesota's Lake Lida and the bass were striking hard."

Tom, let’s hope that your commentary keeps Mr. Krause’s books flying off library shelves this fall and winter. Until then, take some time for the Krause-Lundeen approach to life (see above) in these last, late-summer days: Good friends, good books, and good fishing.

Sharon Miltich - Fergus Falls