Juhani Aho: Rautatie (Finnish language, 1884, WSOY)
Finnish language
Published Feb. 13, 1884 by WSOY.
Rautatie (Finnish for "railroad") is the first novel by the Finnish writer Juhani Aho, published in 1884. Its style has been called national miniature realism. The novel is about the quiet life of a couple living in the middle of the woods and their attempts at imagining what a railroad is based on what they have heard. Rautatie is one of the classics of Finnish literature, and has had more than twenty editions by the start of the 21st century. It has been called Aho's first "artistic full hit". In 2007, WSOY published a perfect copy of the 1892 colour edition illustrated by Eero Järnefelt. A TV film by the same name was made based on the novel in 1973. The novel has also been adapted to numerous plays. The central elements in Rautatie are the imaginations of small-time agrarians and the differences between poor, far-away places and richer places, …
Rautatie (Finnish for "railroad") is the first novel by the Finnish writer Juhani Aho, published in 1884. Its style has been called national miniature realism. The novel is about the quiet life of a couple living in the middle of the woods and their attempts at imagining what a railroad is based on what they have heard. Rautatie is one of the classics of Finnish literature, and has had more than twenty editions by the start of the 21st century. It has been called Aho's first "artistic full hit". In 2007, WSOY published a perfect copy of the 1892 colour edition illustrated by Eero Järnefelt. A TV film by the same name was made based on the novel in 1973. The novel has also been adapted to numerous plays. The central elements in Rautatie are the imaginations of small-time agrarians and the differences between poor, far-away places and richer places, and the social gap between the "lords" and the "common people". One important element is over-use of alcoholic beverages, which is a common theme in Finnish literature as the start of decadent events.
Ukko ja akka kuulevat juoruja uudesta rautatiestä ja aikansa venkoiltuaan lähtevät katsomaan. Päätyvät koeajolle, ja köpelöstihän siinä käy. Kannattiko lähteä, kysyvät vaan. Minulle tämän suurinta antia olivat aikalaiskuvaukset maalaiselämästä.
