
The story opens on a bright June day as a procession of cars snakes its way toward the forest of Boulogne, a symbol of the sprawling, international capitalism that dominates the era. Among the gleaming vehicles sits a French financier, an American billionaire, and a Finnish department chief named Johannes Tamminen, who has spent five years climbing the corporate ladder for Rabbing’s million‑dollar network. He travels to Paris with his wife, their young daughter Seidi, and a caretaker, hoping the trip will finally place him among the privileged few who control the world’s wealth.
Johannes’s outward success masks a deeper turmoil. Though he has secured profitable stock deals and amassed a modest fortune, he is haunted by a persistent shame that follows him from boardrooms to cafés. His marriage, once a source of stability, now feels strained, and his love for his bright‑eyed daughter offers the only glimpse of genuine warmth. As he navigates the glittering streets of the capital, he wrestles with the question of whether the pursuit of money can ever satisfy the yearning for a more meaningful life.
Language
fi
Duration
~3 hours (197K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-12-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1878–1926
A leading voice in Finnish literature, this poet brought together the rhythms of folk tradition and a modern, personal lyric style. His writing moves easily between nature, love, sorrow, and national feeling, which helps explain why it still speaks to readers today.
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