Story takes place in late 19th Century Iceland at a time when a huge part of the country's population were considering, and emigrating to North America. The protagonist of the story, Þuríður is 'Just a Servant' (which is the English translation of the book's title). She moves from farmstead to farmstead, meeting new people, working at the farms at all the chores - tending the livestock, tending the children and the old folks, spinning, knitting and weaving the wool for clothing for all the household. She becomes adept at weaving and is introduced to such modern miracles as the sewing machine. Throughout this life, she witnesses untold deaths of newborns, little children, mothers in childbirth and all the other ailments of the people who have no access to medicines or medical care except for the little the others at the farmstead can provide.
Interspersed with the story that takes place in Iceland are short chapters describing the trip to North America. There is a description of leaving Iceland, changing ships in Scotland, the sea voyages in third class accommodations. All of this follows the thoughts and hopes of Þuríður as she faces each adventure and adversity with pragmatic and fatalistic determination. ( )