Under the North Star is an epic novel trilogy by Finnish author Väinö Linna. Published between 1959 and 1962, the three books follow the life of a Finnish farmer family from the 1880s all the way to the early 1950s. By following the life of the Koskela family and the other inhabitants of their home village, the trilogy describes all the major turning points of Finland's history in that time period. Those include the language strife between Finnish- and Swedish-minded people, the Finnish Civil War of 1918 fought between the reds and the whites, and the Second World War.
The first book spans a period from the 1880s to the 1910s, while the second book focuses on the late 1910s, especially the Civil War. The final installment covers the period from the early 1920s to about 1950.
The trilogy shares one main character with Linna's other major work The Unknown Soldier, so it is set in the same universe.
Under The North Star contains examples of:
- The Alleged House: The Leppänen famkly's home is described as run-down, filthy and smelly. This doesn't seem to change much over the decades.
- Berserk Button: Don't try to take Wolf-Kustaa's gun.
- Generational Saga: The most famous Finnish example. Follows three generations of the Koskela family.
- The Hermit: Wolf-Kustaa keeps to himself, is mostly hostile towards other people and doesn't want help from the society.
- The Idealist: Tailor Aadolf Halme believes very staunchly in his ideals, whether it is women's suffrage or socialism. His highbrow ideas often go way over the heads of the village's inhabitants.
- Odd Friendship: While serving in the Continuation War as a colonel, Ilmari Salpakari is fascinated by the coarse behaviour of his aide Rautala, and prefers to spend time with this thug of a man.
- Really Gets Around: Aune Leppänen has been with so many of the village's young men that nobody's quite sure who is the father of her son. Several characters lose their virginity to her.
- The Stoic: Jussi Koskela rarely shows emotions, even when major events take place in his family.
