"Kuusten juurella: Romaani" by Heikki Meriläinen is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds in a rural Finnish setting, depicting the everyday lives and emotional struggles of its main characters, Mikko and Auno Kivelä. The story explores themes of home, loss, and the impact of external circumstances, particularly hinting at familial ties and the struggles associated with land ownership. The opening of the novel introduces a bleak, snowy
day with Mikko engaged in preparing wooden vessels, a task that highlights his somber mood and hints at underlying concerns regarding their family home, "Mäkelä." Auno, Mikko's wife, shares her sorrow over the loss of their childhood home, reflecting on the devastation brought upon by their relatives. As the evening progresses, the arrival of a visitor, Kauppias Lättenperi, brings unexpected news—a potential opportunity to reclaim their ancestral property from confiscation. Mikko's hesitant but eventual acceptance of the offer sets the stage for their trials and the complexities of hope and regret in reclaiming their past. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
