Tuliliemen Tuttavana: Alkoholimuistelmia

A memoir written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the author’s relationship with alcohol and explores themes of addiction, societal norms, and personal reflection. The narrative centers around the narrator’s complex feelings toward alcohol, characterized by both contempt and allure, and his interactions with significant figures in his life, particularly Charmian, who represents a contrasting perspective on alcohol and its consequences. The opening of the memoir establishes a candid tone as the narrator reflects on a voting day in California, where he finds himself consuming alcohol prior to casting his ballot. He engages in a philosophical discussion with Charmian regarding women's suffrage and the implications of alcohol consumption, introducing the figure of ''Tuliliemi,'' which appears to symbolize alcohol itself, embodying both wisdom and destruction. The protagonist recounts formative experiences with alcohol from childhood to adolescence, highlighting the gradual shift from aversion to an eventual, reluctant acceptance and a growing dependency, all while maintaining a sense of critique towards societal views on drinking and its effects on personal identity.