Johannes Linnankoski (originally Vihtori Johan Peltonen, 18 October 1869 – 10 August 1913) was a Finnish author. His most famous work is the sensual Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta. His primary themes were exploring guilt, punishment and redemption as moral questions.
His books have been made into numerous major feature films with the most famous (or notorious) being Hilja maitotyttö (directed by Teuvo Tulio) and Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta – "The Song of the Blood-Red Flower" – (directed by Mikko Niskanen). "The Song of the Blood-Red Flower" has also been filmed in Sweden, in three different versions by directors Mauritz Stiller, Per-Axel Branner and Gustaf Molander.
Linnankoski was born in Askola and was active in the cultural life of Eastern Uusimaa. He was one of the founders of the bank in Porvoo and also founded Finnish-language schools and daily newspapers such as Uusimaa, the first Finnish-language newspaper situated outside of the major towns of Uusimaa.
In 1938 a Linnankoski museum was opened, close to the sauna building where Linnankoski supposedly was born.
Husmoderen på gården Heikkilä har giftet sig under sin stand, og manden viser sig snart at være både drikfældig og brutal. Det er jo meget almindeligt, og hun finder sig længe i det, men da hans adfærd udarter til, at hendes fædrenegård er ved at gå overstyr, bliver det hende dog for meget, og hun tager magten over både manden og gården - i en grad, så han reduceres til en slags næsten usynlig aftægtsmand, som er henvist til at bo i karlekammeret.
Denne tilstand vedvarer, indtil konen omkring tyve år senere dør - tilsyneladende af et hjerteslag – og manden kommer atter til og fortsætter sit vilde liv. Selv efter døden vil hans kone dog ikke finde sig i, at gården bliver ødelagt.
"Kampen om gården Heikkilä" er langt den største af fortællingerne i denne samling. Den øvrige del rummer kortere og længere værker fra Linnankoskis ret sparsomme produktion, og der findes både humor, alvor, poesi og satire - og en enkelt julehistorie - imellem.
Shop