Väinö Linna
Hardcover | Pages: 338 pages Rating: 4.04 | 4281 Users | 145 Reviews
Describe Books Toward The Unknown Soldier
| Original Title: | Tuntematon sotilas |
| ISBN: | 9510024260 (ISBN13: 9789510024263) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | corporal Mielonen, lieutenant colonel Uuno Eemeli Karjula, captain Kaarna, lieutenant Lammio, lieutenant Ville Autio, major Sarastie, corporal Antero Rokka, corporal Lehto, corporal Mäkilä, corporal Urho Hietanen, corporal Yrjö Lahtinen, soldier Aarne Honkajoki, soldier Asumaniemi, soldier Hauhia, soldier Korpela, soldier Määttä, soldier Rahikainen, soldier Riitaoja, soldier Salo, soldier Sihvonen, soldier Susi, soldier Vanhala, soldier Viirilä, second lieutenant Jorma Kariluoto, second lieutenant Vilho Koskela, second lieutenant Jalovaara, quartermaster Korsumäki, staff sergeant Sinkkonen, soldier Ukkola |
| Setting: | Finland Karelia(Russian Federation) |
Narrative Concering Books The Unknown Soldier
Most people outside Scandinavia hardly even know what happened to Finland during World War II. Initially, the Russians had a non-aggression pact with the Germans, so that left their hands free to attack Finland. The Finns defended doggedly, but it looked like it was just a matter of time. Then the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa, and the Russians were suddenly fighting for their lives. The Finns, operating on the "enemy's enemy" principle, coordinated their counter-attack on Russia with the Germans. Both phases of the war were horrifyingly savage. At the end, since the Finns were technically classed as an Axis power, they had to pay enormous reparations to Russia, basically for the crime of having been attacked, and then defending themselves robustly.This book presents a matter-of-fact account of what it was like to be a low-level Finnish soldier in this hellish little corner of WW II. It's pretty good.
List Of Books The Unknown Soldier
| Title | : | The Unknown Soldier |
| Author | : | Väinö Linna |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 338 pages |
| Published | : | January 1st 1975 by W. Söderström (first published December 3rd 1954) |
| Categories | : | Classics. Fiction. European Literature. Finnish Literature. War. Historical. Historical Fiction |
Rating Of Books The Unknown Soldier
Ratings: 4.04 From 4281 Users | 145 ReviewsAppraise Of Books The Unknown Soldier
Thoughtful, fierce, often funny, and deeply distrustful of any authority that sets itself above the ordinary individual... I don't know the Finns well enough yet to say whether this book matches up with the Finnish spirit, but it certainly matches what I've seen so far.A wonderful book! Not literally to be exact, but for some reason I really liked this book. Even as I had to read it to complete one course in school, it didn't get in the way of my literary enjoyment. And it is about war, not the nicest thing to read about.Anyway, the way it was written and all the different characters captured me in the story, in this strange way. Because no one is the protagonist, though there are a few main characters, you don't know what others are doing or who is still
Intriguing characters and exciting story set in a personally interesting period in time.
Most people outside Scandinavia hardly even know what happened to Finland during World War II. Initially, the Russians had a non-aggression pact with the Germans, so that left their hands free to attack Finland. The Finns defended doggedly, but it looked like it was just a matter of time. Then the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa, and the Russians were suddenly fighting for their lives. The Finns, operating on the "enemy's enemy" principle, coordinated their counter-attack on Russia with
If I rated this on enjoyment, it'd only be 3 stars. But that was the fault of the translator. (I read a 1957 English translation with prose as stiff as a board.) However, the meat of the book still managed to come through and I could see how effective it was and the enduring theme of men in war.
This book, like everything else Ive ever read by Linna, is great. If youre interested at all in The Continuation War between the Soviet Union and Finland during WWII, this is your book. Even if youre not, this makes for excellent reading anyway. It follows a plucky group of Finnish soldiers from training camp through their ultimate defeat. Its both sad and funny with that typical dry Finnish wit. You come to really love all of the characters and feel everything they feel.
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