Subject
Russian fiction -- Translations into Finnish Books
Best books
Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
"Anna Karenina" by graf Leo Tolstoy is a novel first published in book form in 1878. The story follows Anna, a married socialite, whose scandalous affair with cavalry officer Count Vronsky disrupts Imperial Russian society and forces them to flee. Meanwhile, landowner Konstantin Levin pursues marriage with Kitty and struggles with his own faith. The novel explores themes of betrayal, family, marriage, desire, and the contrasts between rural and urban life against Russia's rapidly transforming society.
Lev Lvovich Tolstoy
Mistä ihmiset elävät : $b ynnä muita kertomuksia
"Mistä ihmiset elävät : ynnä muita kertomuksia" by Lev Lvovich Tolstoy is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The main narrative features a shoemaker named Semjon, who, amid his struggles for survival, encounters a mysterious naked man one cold day, leading to themes of compassion, poverty, and the essence of human connection. The book explores profound moral questions through its characters' experiences, emphasizing the importance of love and community. The opening of the book introduces Semjon, a struggling shoemaker, who is out of luck while trying to gather money to buy new sheepskins for a coat. After facing numerous disappointments while attempting to collect debts, he finds a naked man by a chapel, initially fearing the worst. However, the shoemaker's conscience compels him to help the man, which leads to a series of reflections on the nature of humanity and divine love. Through this encounter, the story sets the stage for profound revelations about the interconnectedness of human beings and the idea that people do not merely live for themselves but for one another through acts of love and kindness.
A. I. (Aleksandr Ivanovich) Kuprin
Valkoinen villakoira y.m. kertomuksia
"Valkoinen villakoira y.m. kertomuksia" by A. I. Kuprin is a collection of stories written in the early 20th century. The book features whimsical narratives that explore the lives of both humans and animals, showcasing themes of companionship, longing, and the artistry of everyday life. Central to the opening tale is a white poodle named Arto, who embarks on an adventure accompanied by an old man named Martyn Lodyzhkin and a young boy named Sergei. The opening of the book introduces the small group as they travel along the southern coast of Crimea, with Arto leading the way. The elderly Lodyzhkin carries a decrepit music box, and Sergei has a small cage with a trained bird. Their journey is filled with humorous and tender moments that reveal the deep bond between them, as well as Lodyzhkin's affection for music and his companions. As they move from villa to villa, their attempts to entertain for a few coins lead to a mix of both disappointment and enjoyment, setting the tone for the enchanting stories to follow.
Leonid Andreyev
Pimeyttä
"Pimeyttä" by Leonid Andreyev is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores dark themes through the lens of a protagonist who finds himself entangled in a life of volatility and danger, embodying the struggles of a revolutionary grappling with his identity, society, and moral decay. The narrative unfolds around his internal conflict and external actions as he faces the consequences of living on the edge of societal chaos. The opening of "Pimeyttä" introduces us to a weary protagonist—a terrorist—hiding from the police after a recent upheaval in his troubled life. He navigates the hustle and bustle of the city streets, contemplating his imminent, reckless role in a terrorist act while dealing with feelings of fatigue and dread. The protagonist’s thoughts spiral into a conundrum of emotions as he seeks refuge in a house that caters to those who are lost, where he prepares to confront his conflicting desires and societal roles. This atmosphere of impending doom and moral complexity entangles him with Ljuba, a woman caught in the same web of desperation and longing, setting the stage for a violent clash of ideas and desperate choices.
Leo Tolstoy
Jumalallista ja inhimillistä eli vielä kolme kuolemaa
"Jumalallista ja inhimillistä eli vielä kolme kuolemaa" by Leo Tolstoy is a narrative work written in the late 19th century. This book delves into themes of morality, revolution, and the human condition during a turbulent period in Russian history, particularly focusing on the character Anatolii Svjetlogub as he grapples with his fate in a world filled with systemic injustice and revolutionary fervor. At the start of the narrative, we witness the somber setting of a general's office in southern Russia during the 1870s, a time marked by revolutionary struggles against the government. The general grapples with the weight of his decisions, particularly regarding the death sentence for Svjetlogub, a brilliant candidate implicated in a conspiracy. This tension continues as the story shifts, revealing Svjetlogub's mother in despair over her son's fate, juxtaposed against Svjetlogub's own reflections on his life's choices while imprisoned. Themes of sacrifice, love, and the search for truth and meaning permeate this opening, setting the stage for a profound exploration of life, death, and the complexities of moral righteousness amid societal chaos.
Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev
Ensimäinen rakkauteni
"Ensimäinen rakkauteni" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is a novella first published in 1860. A sixteen-year-old boy falls deeply for his twenty-one-year-old neighbor, the captivating and capricious Zinaida. She toys with multiple suitors, treating the young narrator with sisterly affection while keeping her true feelings mysterious. As his infatuation deepens, he remains unaware of a shocking secret involving someone very close to him. Turgenev claimed this tale of first love was his most autobiographical work.
Maksim Gorky
Kertomuksia II
"Kertomuksia II" by Maksim Gorky is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. This literary work captures the struggles and experiences of characters often on the margins of society, exploring themes of poverty, human connection, and the pursuit of hope amidst despair. Gorky's ability to create vivid portrayals of these characters establishes a deep connection between the reader and the often harsh realities they face. The opening of the collection introduces us to three weary travelers who have set off from Perekop, hungry and dispirited. As they journey through the desolate steppe, the group—consisting of a soldier, a university dropout, and a humble narrator—shares their mutual experiences of hunger and alienation while maintaining a sense of camaraderie amid their dire circumstances. The narrative evokes a poignant imagery of their march, filled with existential musings and raw human emotion, culminating in a tense encounter with a stranger that tests their morals and survival instincts. This opening sets the tone for a reflective examination of human nature, social structures, and the resilience required to endure the trials of life.
Leo Tolstoy
Perheonni
"Perheonni" by graf Leo Tolstoi is a novel written in the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of a family grappling with the loss of their matriarch, the story revolves around the lives of three siblings, Maria, Katja, and Sonja, as they navigate grief and isolation on their estate. The narrative delves into their relationships and emotional struggles, particularly focusing on Maria, who feels trapped in her sorrow and begins to explore the possibility of love and happiness amidst her family's turmoil. At the start of the novel, the siblings are mourning their recently deceased mother during a dreary winter at their country estate. The atmosphere is heavy with sadness, and they are isolated, receiving few visitors who also bring reminders of their loss. Maria, the central character, at seventeen years old, wrestles with feelings of hopelessness and despair as she reflects on her life and future without her mother. Despite her melancholy, the arrival of Sergei Michailovitsh, a family friend, introduces a glimpse of warmth and potential change, as Maria grapples with her feelings towards him, contrasting her inner turmoil with newfound hope for a brighter future.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Venäläisiä talonpoikia
"Venäläisiä talonpoikia" by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a narrative work written during the late 19th century. The story explores the lives of rural Russian peasants, depicting their struggles, poverty, and the social issues they face, particularly in the wake of political upheaval. Central to the narrative is Nikolai Tshikildejev, a former waiter from Moscow, who returns to his village with his family in search of a simpler, more affordable life amid his deteriorating health. At the start of the book, readers are introduced to Nikolai Tshikildejev as he arrives home in the village of Shukovo. He hopes to recover from illness, but the grim reality of his family's living conditions quickly becomes evident. The opening describes the dreary state of the home and the pervasive poverty that surrounds them, contrasting Nikolai’s previous life in Moscow. The passage also introduces other characters, such as Nikolai's wife, Olga, and their daughter, Sasha, as they navigate the challenges posed by their impoverished rural environment. Their return to the village sets the stage for deep examinations of family dynamics, social hierarchy, and the stark realities of peasant life in Russia during this tumultuous period.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Venäläistä rakkautta
"Venäläistä rakkautta" by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The work delves into complex human emotions and relationships, often illustrating the intricate dynamics of love and societal expectations within Russian culture. Through various characters who grapple with their desires, regrets, and moral dilemmas, Chekhov paints a rich tapestry of personal experiences and existential queries. The opening of this collection introduces a captivating scene aboard a train, where a lovely woman engages in an intimate conversation with a young writer. She expresses her troubled past, marked by unfulfilled dreams and emotional turbulence, soliciting the writer to capture her essence in words. As the narrative unfolds, themes of unrequited love and the pursuit of happiness emerge, particularly when the woman reflects on the constraints posed by her relationships, contrasting with the freedom she yearns for. The dialogue reveals both characters' deep introspections, setting the stage for a series of explorations into the nature of love, suffering, and the human condition that will unfold throughout the stories.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Avioliittoja: Kokoelma aviotarinoita
"Avioliittoja: Kokoelma aviotarinoita" by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a collection of stories written in the early 20th century. The book explores various aspects of marriage and relationships, depicting the complexities and challenges that couples face. Through a series of vignettes and character studies, Chekhov delves into themes of love, fidelity, and marital discord. The opening of the collection introduces us to the characters of Nadeshda Filippovna and her mother, who are caught in a dreary rainy day, waiting for the return of Nadeshda’s husband, Aleksei Stepanitsh. As they engage in conversation, their longing for Aleksei surfaces, revealing their worries and anxieties about his well-being and dedication. Eventually, Nadeshda resolves to visit him, but her excitement is soon overshadowed by devastating news that Aleksei has betrayed their trust, setting off a passionate and emotional reaction from both women and establishing the collection's tone of intimacy and emotional depth.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Kuudes osasto
"Kuudes osasto" by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a work of fiction likely written in the late 19th century. The narrative is set in a bleak hospital environment where the majority of characters are patients suffering from various mental illnesses. The main character introduced is Ivan Dmitritsh Gromov, a former public servant afflicted by persecution mania, whose life story unfolds in the context of the hospital’s oppressive atmosphere and the dynamics between the patients and staff. At the start of the story, Chekhov paints a vivid picture of the neglected and desolate hospital facility, highlighting its deteriorating state, which reflects the despair of the patients contained within. The introduction of characters such as the old soldier Nikita, the lively yet mentally unstable Moiseika, and the troubled Ivan Dmitritsh establishes a somber tone, underscoring the social and personal tragedies experienced by the inmates. Gromov grapples with his mental affliction through his internal monologues filled with existential dread and a longing for freedom, further complicating the relationships he shares with fellow patients as they navigate the hardships of their confinement. Overall, the opening sets up themes of isolation, mental anguish, and societal indifference, drawing readers into a nuanced exploration of human suffering amidst institutional neglect.
Recently surfaced classics