Ja Sitten Jätkä Kuoli

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with the birth of the main character, Kankkus-Hilemooni, into a modest and tumultuous setting that highlights the struggles of rural Finnish life. The narrative follows the Kankkus family, particularly focusing on the protagonist as he navigates the challenges and aspirations of his upbringing, including family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal dreams. At the start of the novel, the protagonist Kankkus-Hilemooni is born in a sauna, introducing an air of rawness to his existence. The story captures the everyday lives of his parents, Kankkus-Sakari and Hilta, who grapple with financial burdens while managing a growing family. We see Hilemooni's mother contemplating the implications of bringing another child into a strained household, while his father remains focused on work at the local sawmill. As Hilemooni grows, he begins to dream of a future that might free him from the weight of poverty, setting the stage for a journey through adolescence filled with the complexities of love, family, and the quest for identity in a rapidly changing world.