From the Shores of the Ladoga
116: Meador Publishing Company, 1947. Hardcover. Text in English. 180 pp. Dust jacket shows some rubbing and toning with small tear at top edge. Clean pages.
Many people in the United States remember Finland as the little country in Europe that so faithfully paid, and has continued to pay, its debts to the United States contracted during World War I. This fact has caused many a person to inquire, "Just what kind of people are those that live in Finland? What makes them So prompt about paying their debts?"
From the Shores of Ladoga gives one a glimpse of the simple life of the Finnish farmer who used to live in Karelia, on the shores of Lake Ladoga, in the southeastern part of Finland before that portion of the country was ceded to Russia. The Karelian farmer's life is typical of the life of all farmers in Finland. In this book we gain an insight into his hopes, struggles, and joys, as we follow the lives of Miina and Matti, the young people, who furnish the main plot in the story. The community life of the farmer, centering chiefly around the church, comes into relief. The celebration of the holidays during the year is depicted quite accurately, as are also the wedding customs. A good description of the sauna, the Finnish bath house, is also given.
The author, having been born and brought up in that country, knows very well the Finnish people's sentimental attachment to external nature and gives beautiful, poetic descriptions of the lake region under different atmospheric conditions, both during the day and the night. The young couple's philosophy of life—happiness coupled with hard work close to nature—receives emphasis. Near Fine / Very Good. Item #6516
Price: $80.00