
BATHSEBA
VOLTER KILPI
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In a moon‑lit chamber, a weary king sits beneath a vaulted roof, his harp untouched, as the night stretches out like an endless desert. His thoughts drift between the glow of distant Jerusalem and the dark, restless wilderness that haunts his imagination, creating a vivid portrait of longing and inner turmoil. The opening immerses the listener in a lyrical soliloquy that feels both ancient and intensely personal.
The narrative unfolds as David wrestles with desire, guilt, and the search for peace, his words painted with rich, poetic imagery of heat, thirst, and the yearning for an elusive embrace. As the night deepens, the king’s introspection invites reflection on the human condition—how we confront solitude, passion, and the pull of the unknown. Listeners will be drawn into a haunting meditation that lingers long after the final breath fades.
Language
fi
Duration
~3 hours (227K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-10-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1874–1939
A major Finnish modernist, he is best remembered for the monumental novel Alastalon salissa, a work often praised as one of the finest in Finnish literature. His writing is known for its daring style, rich language, and deep feel for archipelago life.
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