
A weary couple trudges through a sweltering, dust‑laden landscape, their steps growing slower with each mile. Their only source of strength is a sturdy young son, his sweat‑soaked face a stark contrast to the frailty of his parents. The oppressive heat turns the road into a shimmering furnace, while distant church towers loom like unreachable promises.
They finally reach a small town’s train station, where chaos erupts: soldiers scramble for seats, frantic cries fill the air, and the clatter of departing trains blends with the mournful sighs of families on the brink. Amid the turmoil, a tender yet strained bond forms between a young couple who cling to each other in silence, their eyes reflecting a mix of fear and fragile hope.
Through this vivid opening, the story paints a portrait of endurance amid war‑torn uncertainty, capturing the desperate longing for safety and the quiet courage that keeps a family moving forward.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (145K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2014-09-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1883–1937
A self-taught Finnish writer and political firebrand, he drew on hard labor, travel, and poverty to create fiction with strong social feeling. His life moved between literature, activism, and public service, giving his work an unusually lived-in intensity.
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by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki

by Konrad Lehtimäki