Nights of Summer, Nights of Autumn

New Condition

Nights of Summer, Nights of Autumn takes place in Finland from 1895 to 1920 and portrays a woman's struggle for identity and survival against the backdrop of the turbulent quest for nationhood and independence of this brave Nordic land. Based on the life of the author's grandmother, the historical novel describes the search for identity of Johanna, a poor farm girl who comes to the city and marries into a family of the rising bourgeoisie. But she soon encounters the disapproval of her mother-in-law and later must overcome the darkness of multiple tragedies, including unwanted pregnancies and the death of loved ones. There are happy times as well---love in the light summer nights of the beautiful Finnish countryside, the friendship of other women, and the satisfaction of creating a livelihood for herself.

The story is played out against the background of the development of Finnish nationalism and culture at the turn of the century, when Finland's great artists: Sibelius, Gallen-Kallela and Saarinen were at the peak of achievement. Political events in Czarist Russia and Finland's growing independence movement intrude more and more into the lives of the novel's characters. In the final chapters, the bloody events of the Bolshevik Revolution and Finland's Civil War become central to the story of Johanna, her husband and sons. Her younger son, the author's father, escapes from Finland to sail on the last of the merchant sailing ships from Norway to America, Australa and south America; his adventures are recounted in letters sent home to his mother in Finland 

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have a great experience with our preloved books! While we don’t sell any books that are fully damaged or unreadable, our used books might show some signs of love from their previous owners. This can include minor issues like bent corners, a dull cover, general wear and tear, or library stickers and seals. We do our best to describe any defects in each book’s listing and include photos for you to see its condition. Occasionally, we might miss something, but this is never intentional.

We do not accept returns on Preloved Books.  

Please contact us with questions prior to purchasing.