Growth of the Soil, Knut Hamsun's Nobel Prize winning novel, is an abiding classic of Scandinavian literature. At the time it was published, the literary world was in the throes of shifting to a modernist style. Popular novels were set in the contemporary present, with technological and societal advancements forming part of the narrative backdrop. Growth of the Soil openly displays the conflicts between the old traditions of agrarian society, and the ever-mounting wonders and conveniences offered by modern society. The farmer Isak scarcely acknowledges the values of modern living. Illiterate but capable of carrying out the business of running a farm, he has physical strength and works with his hands. Although initially amazed by Isak's prowess - his wife Inger, who came into contact with modern society when imprisoned for killing her infant due to its birth defect, return to the home much less impressed by the country life.