
A bright-eyed newcomer named Joseph arrives in the bustling city of Kiowa, overwhelmed by the clamor of markets, horse‑drawn carriages and towering stone buildings. The vivid streets pulse with merchants, monks and soldiers, each chasing their own purpose, while the summer sun reflects off every window, making the city feel both exhilarating and intimidating.
There he encounters Gustav, a frail but determined student who has already spent two years navigating the university’s demanding routine. Gustav offers Joseph a place to stay and a chance to join the scholarly community, promising the rigors of lectures, late‑night study sessions and the camaraderie of fellow pupils.
Together they step into the world of higher learning, where ambition collides with exhaustion and the pursuit of knowledge becomes a test of endurance. The story captures the hopeful optimism of youth, the weight of familial expectations, and the everyday struggles that shape a student’s first steps toward adulthood.
Language
fi
Duration
~3 hours (215K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Finland: Minerva Oy, 1923.
Credits
Juhani Kärkkäinen and Tapio Riikonen
Release date
2023-08-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1846–1916
Best known for sweeping historical novels and the international bestseller Quo Vadis, this Polish writer brought the past to life on a grand, dramatic scale. He was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in Literature, and his books helped shape Polish cultural identity far beyond his own time.
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