Kareliad

***The Kareliad*** is a piece of Karelian literature written in 659 by Ahti Saarelainen, the first major narrative work published in Karelian since the *Kalevala*. It follows the adventures of a minor Karelian nobleman, Matti Koskinen, amidst the backdrop of King Eerik's War, depicting several major historical events, including the Siege of Valjala, the Battle of the Võru Coast, and the death of King Eerik on Roðar.

## Themes

Through Matti Koskinen and his son, Saarelainen conspicuously espouses the importance of servitude to the gods and to nature. A more subtle undercurrent throughout the novel is Saarelainen's critique of Karelian raiding culture, depicting King Eerik's raids on Norse villages as violent and horrific, a fact commented on by Matti throughout the story. It also differs from most other Karelian writings in depicting foreigners, especially Serkir and Norse, in a sympathetic light. This likely stems from Saarelainen's own background as a traveling merchant, providing him a unique perspective most Karelian nobles and peasants would not have.
Another idea Saarelainen expresses, especially in the introduction, is a unique view on the nature of history, affirming that it is important to remember history as the experiences of real people, and not just old documents.

## Writing Style

The perspective of the novel is of the author's, who is recounting the tales passed down from Matti's son, a reclusive old man on the island of Lake Saimaa. It includes some elements of stream of consciousness, but mostly maintains a standard narrative structure throughout the novel.

### Excerpt

(*Taken from the novel's introduction*)

"As you sit in your quiet home, surrounded by peace, comfort, and civilization, do you, friend, remember those memories, grand and tearful, which still, after hundreds of years, remain, now radiant with the brightness of sunlight, and now darkening, like indelible blood-stains, the variegated pages of history? Can your thoughts, torpid with repose, transport themselves back to the horrors and joys of the past, not straying indifferently from one thing to another which excites your curiosity, but taking a warm and vital interest, as if you yourself stood in the midst of those struggles, now long since fought out, bled in them, conquered or fell in them, and felt your heart beat with hope or apprehension, according as fortune smiled or betrayed? Standing on the heights of history, and looking far around on the wild arena of human destiny, can you transfer yourself into the vale of the past the life physically buried and decayed, but spiritually immortal, which constitutes the essence and substance of history?

Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man, with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not, rather, the genius of history like an eternally blooming maiden, full of ﬁre, with a burning heart and ﬂaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? Therefore, if you have the capacity to suffer or rejoice with the generations that have been; to hate with them, to love with them; to be transported, to admire, to despise, to curse, as they have done; in a word, to live among them with your whole heart, and not alone with your cold, reﬂecting judgment, — then follow me! I will lead you down into the vale. My hand is weak, and my sketch humble; but your heart will guide you better than I: upon that I rely — and begin."