Yhden Ainoan Kerran: Novelleja

A collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The book explores complex human emotions and interactions, often set against a rural Finnish backdrop, focusing on themes of love, loneliness, and the nature of relationships. Through various characters, such as city dwellers seeking solace in nature and a solitary coal burner named Matti, the stories seem to delve into the intricacies of life and the choices that define us. At the start of the collection, readers are introduced to the idyllic summer setting of Tiiveli, where city folk have come to escape urban life. The narrative hints at the juxtaposition between the carefree nature of the visitors and the more reserved feelings of the local inhabitants, particularly focusing on Matti—a solitary character who wrestles with his loneliness and the memory of a lost romantic opportunity. Through interactions with a young couple, Kajander sets the stage for themes of longing and introspection, as Matti reflects on the life he has lived and the choices he made, pondering over his solitary existence and the notion of love experienced only once.