
In a quiet lakeside village lives an elderly fisherman known only as “the old man.” With a beard as white as snow and a gentle heart, he is ridiculed by the villagers for his silence, yet the children swear he hears their whispers and speaks of a hidden fairyland where stories take shape. He insists that this enchanted realm truly exists, a place he visits in secret, and his quiet confidence draws the curiosity of the few who still believe.
Among those believers is a bright‑eyed girl named Hanna, who longs to step into that magical world. Determined to prove her goodness, she spends two weeks behaving flawlessly, earning her mother’s praise and a promise that she may journey to the fairyland with friends of her choosing. Her hope grows when she receives a reply from the mysterious “Kiljusen gentlemen,” a family she has only heard of in legend, agreeing to join her adventure.
As the day of departure approaches, Hanna encounters the mischievous Esko, a local boy who scoffs at the notion of a fairyland. Their exchange reveals the tension between skepticism and wonder, setting the stage for Hanna’s first step into the realm where ordinary life and enchantment may finally meet.
Language
fi
Duration
~1 hours (89K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2017-11-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1874–1938
A lively figure in Finnish cultural life, he worked across literature and theater as a writer, translator, manager, and historian. He is especially remembered for the long-running Kiljusen family books, which brought humor and adventure to generations of young readers.
View all books
by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne

by Jalmari Finne