The Brothers

Järnefelt, Arvid, 1861-1932Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 666K words
Chapters: 67

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971, and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Veljekset by Arvid Järnefelt. Author: Järnefelt, Arvid, 1861-1932. Language: Finnish. Class: PH: Language and Literatures: Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures. Release Date: Apr 3, 2006

Editor's review

Veljekset (The Brothers) is a novel by the Finnish author Arvid Järnefelt, written in Finnish and belonging to Finnish literature and language studies. Järnefelt was a major figure in Finnish literature from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, and his work often concerns social ethics and family relations. The book revolves around the emotions and fates of brothers; its language bears the marks of its era, and its narrative pace is rather measured, suiting readers willing to enter the context of Nordic literature. As a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, it is freely available and also suitable as supplementary reading material for Finnish-language study or research in Finnish literature. Readers might place it in the context of the rise of Finnish national literature and note the social and moral issues behind the relationships among the characters. Because this is an early electronic public-domain edition, its layout and annotations are limited; reading it alongside necessary background materials is recommended for a fuller experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Intermediate to advanced Finnish learners who wish to engage with original literary texts
Researchers and enthusiasts interested in Nordic literature and the history of Finnish literature
Organizers who need free public-domain texts for classroom teaching or reading groups
Readers who enjoy serious novels about family ethics and brotherly relations

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast-paced plots or light entertainment
Beginners with no Finnish whatsoever who are unwilling to use a translation
Newcomers who need detailed annotations and an introduction

Reading tips

First learn about Järnefelt's era and the background of Finnish literature, then enter the text
Finnish readers may read one chapter through first, mark unfamiliar words, then reread to sort out the relationships among the characters
Read alongside a translation: use the translation to grasp the plot, then return to the original to appreciate its language and style
After reading, write brief notes on brotherly relations and ethical conflicts to facilitate discussion

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for Finnish beginners?

Not really for readers starting from zero. The original is in Finnish, and the book dates from an early period, so its vocabulary and sentence patterns bear the marks of their time. Intermediate or higher Finnish reading ability is recommended, or readers may first use a translation to understand the plot and then try the original.

Why is reading alongside background materials recommended?

This is an early public-domain electronic text with limited annotations and introductory material. Understanding the author's era and the direction of Finnish literature can help readers grasp the social and moral issues behind the relationships among the characters and reduce misinterpretation caused by cultural distance.

Where does the main difficulty of reading this book lie?

Mainly in the language and the narrative pace. The Finnish original is challenging for non-native speakers, and the narrative is rather measured, focusing on relationships among characters rather than a strong plot. Readers used to fast-paced stories need to adjust their expectations and enter the text patiently.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Järnefelt, Arvid, 1861-1932 Author

Arvid Järnefelt (1861–1932) was a Finnish author. The library holds 23 of his works, commonly classified under inspirational growth. His representative works include Veneh'ojalaiset, Helena: Romaani, Valtaset, Isänmaa, Heräämiseni, Maa kuuluu kaikille! Matkoiltani Laukon laulumailla, Maaemon lapsia and Orjan oppi. Because public information is limited, the details of his life cannot be firmly established; nevertheless, the titles and themes of his works suggest that he often wrote about rural life, homeland, labour and personal awakening. His writing shows a clear realist tendency and a strong moral inquiry, focusing on ordinary people's circumstances and spiritual growth. His works are of some significance in the context of Nordic literature and the development of Finnish national consciousness, and are suitable for readers interested in Finnish literature and themes of growth.