
audiobook
by Otto Engb. (Otto Engelbert) Jaatinen
Set in the spring of 1790, the drama opens inside Larsson’s modest glove shop in Porvoo. The shop is alive with the sound of a young woman’s song, her voice floating above the clatter of needles and the scent of fresh leather. As she muses on freedom and love, the arrival of King Kustaa III and his retinue turns the ordinary marketplace into a stage for intrigue and expectation.
Ingrid, the shop’s spirited apprentice, dreams of a heroic lover worthy of a king, while the shopkeeper Larsson offers pragmatic, often sarcastic commentary. Young Rudolf, eager to prove his bravery, boasts of joining the army, sparking a lively debate about duty, patriotism, and the true meaning of courage. Their banter, punctuated by witty retorts, reveals the clash between idealism and everyday survival.
The play weaves songs into its dialogue, giving the audience a taste of the era’s folk spirit. With its vivid period details and a cast of characters torn between personal desire and looming national conflict, the work offers a charming glimpse into a pivotal moment in Finnish‑Swedish history.
Language
fi
Duration
~58 minutes (55K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2013-07-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1881–1934
A Finnish businessman who also wrote plays, he moved between the worlds of commerce, shipping, and the stage. His life gave him an unusual mix of practical experience and literary ambition.
View all books
by Evald Ferdinand Jahnsson

by Robert Kiljander

by Yrjö Weijola

by Minna Canth

by Aleksis Kivi

by Minna Canth

by Minna Canth

by Aleksis Kivi