Love in Times of War

Rakkaus vainoaikaan

Set in 1940-1941 during the truce between Finland and the Soviet Union, Love in Times of War is a historical romance novel about two young people who lost their youth before it even began.

Marjut and Aatos have returned from the Winter War. Marjut has experienced unthinkable horrors, including giving birth prematurely in a bomb shelter. Aatos, who suffered a severe head injury in the war, has also been left traumatised. Aatos goes to Marjut’s family house in the countryside.

In the countryside Aatos starts painting as a means of healing and Marjut starts to fall in love with him. They embark upon a love affair and, for a moment, things look promising. However, just as the novel draws to a close the Continuation War breaks out.

After the war, Love in Times of War was removed from libraries for political reasons.

Mika Waltari (1908-1979) is the most popular 20th century Finnish writer who is best known for his magnus opus The Egyptian. Over a career that spanned five decades, Waltari published well over 100 works, of which 200 translations have been made. His works include at least 30 novels, 20 plays and 15 novellas, as well as short stories, poems, screenplays and essays. In 1957 he was appointed to the Academy of Finland, having previously won the state literature award five times. Waltari’s works have been translated into over 40 languages.