The Reindeer Book

Kianto, Ilmari, 1874-1970Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 286K words
Chapters: 29

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.Poro-kirja by Ilmari KiantoAuthor: Kianto, Ilmari, 1874-1970,Language: Finnish, Class: SF: Agriculture: Animal culture, Release Date: Aug 2, 2017

Editor's review

Poro-kirja (The Reindeer Book) is a work by the Finnish author Ilmari Kianto, classified by Project Gutenberg under agriculture and animal culture. Kianto is a representative figure in Finnish literary history, and this book takes the reindeer as its subject, sitting close to the boundary between natural history and regional writing. It is not a plot-driven novel but rather an account of reindeer life, herding, and the northern natural environment, suited to readers interested in Nordic rural life, animal culture, or the Finnish original. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies in offering a freely accessible Finnish text for language learners and enthusiasts of folklore and agricultural history. It is best read slowly, as material for understanding northern ways of life rather than for narrative.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Finnish literature and Nordic regional writing
Enthusiasts of reindeer herding, animal culture, or northern agricultural history
Learners with basic Finnish seeking public-domain originals for reading practice
Digital readers interested in Project Gutenberg's small-language resources

Not a good fit for

General readers with no Finnish and no translation at hand
Literary readers expecting plot and character-driven stories
Readers seeking a systematic practical manual on reindeer husbandry

Reading tips

First confirm your Finnish level, and use a dictionary or parallel translation as needed
Proceed by theme rather than speed, organizing reindeer-related observations after each section
Combine with background material on Nordic geography and rural life to aid understanding
Treat the book as reference material and read in short sessions rather than all at once

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 a novel or a natural history?

The metadata classifies it under agriculture and animal culture, and the title means "The Reindeer Book"; it is closer to an account centered on reindeer than to a plot novel. The exact genre should be confirmed against the original text.

Can I read this book without knowing Finnish?

The book is in Finnish, and reading it directly without Finnish will be difficult. A translation is recommended, or use it as Finnish learning material alongside a dictionary and parallel text.

Who was the author Kianto?

The metadata shows Ilmari Kianto lived from 1874 to 1970 and was a Finnish author. This book is one of his works in Project Gutenberg; further biographical details are not provided.

Is this book suitable for people studying reindeer husbandry?

It is classified under agriculture and animal culture and can serve as a text for understanding accounts related to reindeer, but the metadata does not indicate it is a systematic husbandry manual. Those with practical needs should seek specialized references.

Comments

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About the author

Kianto, Ilmari, 1874-1970 Author

Ilmari Kianto (1874-1970) was a Finnish author, with 15 works held in this collection. His writing spans novels, poetry, and essays, often drawing on Finnish rural life, marriage, social conflict, and memories of war. Notable works include the novel Punainen viiva (The Red Line); Avioliitto: Tarina tuhansien joukosta, which examines marriage; Vanha pappila, set in an old parsonage; and Hakkaa päälle! Sotarunoja valkoiselle armeijalle, war poems dedicated to the White Army. Poro-kirja concerns reindeer, while Pyhä viha: Romaani and Metsäherran herjaaja further reflect his interest in nature, morality, and human contradiction. Public information is limited, making biographical details difficult to verify, yet his works reveal a plain, forceful narrative style that portrays Finnish social and spiritual life.