Punainen Viiva

A novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes related to rural life in Finland, focusing on the struggles of the impoverished peasantry against the backdrop of the difficult and often unforgiving wilderness. Central to the narrative is Topi Topinpoika Romppanen, a farmer navigating the harsh realities of existence in an isolated setting. The opening of the novel vividly illustrates the desolate and silent atmosphere of the wilderness as a bear, the ''King of the Forest,'' emerges from hibernation. The narrative captures a tense moment in nature, with animals sensing the change and a foreboding feeling hanging in the air. As the bear reflects on its youth and the instinctive pull of its homeland, a contrast is drawn between the life of the wild and the human struggles depicted in the nearby settlement of Korpiloukko. The subsequent chapters introduce Topi and his family, highlighting their day-to-day challenges amid their stark surroundings, setting the stage for themes of survival and societal change that will unfold throughout the story.