Arto Paasilinna (1942–2018) was born in Lapland, Finland. By turns woodcutter, agricultural laborer, journalist, and poet, he was also an award-winning author of more than thirty novels, all of which have been translated into numerous languages.
Pico Iyer (foreword) wrote an essay that became one of The New York Times’ most e-mailed articles, about leaving a life as a successful journalist for a simpler life. He is the author of two novels and numerous nonfiction books about the cultures of the world, including The Art of Stillness, The Open Road, Autumn Light, and A Beginner’s Guide to Japan. He has never been to Finland except through the pages of this book.
