Under the North Star

Under the North Star

Under the North Star The Uprising Reconciliation
Author	Väinö Linna
Original title	Täällä Pohjantähden alla
Translator	Richard Impola
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish
Published	1959 1960 1962
Published in English	2001–2003
No. of books	3

Under the North Star (Finnish: Täällä Pohjantähden alla) is a trilogy published between 1959–1962 by Finnish author Väinö Linna. The novel follows the life of a Finnish family from 1880, through the First World War, the Finnish Civil War and the Second World War, to about 1950. Through the lives of ordinary people, it describes the clash of ideals in Finland's language strife and the struggle between the Whites (nationalists) and the Reds (socialists) in the movement to Independence and Civil War.

The novel shares one main character, Vilho Koskela, and covers some of the same events as another novel: The Unknown Soldier by the author.

The story opens with Jussi, a farm hand from Häme, clearing marshland to create a croft, which will later be called Koskela. In the first part of the book tension mounts between crofters and land owners. Jussi's son Akseli becomes an active socialist. At the same time the upper classes are concerned with language strife and Finland's relationship with Russia.

In the second part the Finnish Civil War breaks out. The book describes the atrocities committed on both sides, as well as the tensions which lead up to them. The war hits Koskela harshly, for the family loses two sons.

In the third part the community is dominated by the whites, the victors of the Civil War. In Koskela, however, matters improve as crofters are liberated and Koskela becomes an independent farm. Things turn for the worse at the outbreak of the Second World War. Again Koskela pays a heavy price, losing three sons. The last chapters of the book concentrate on the reconciliatory atmosphere created by the joint hardships endured during the war.

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