Quotes from book
The Unknown Soldier

Name: The Unknown Soldier
Author: Väinö Linna

Väinö LinnaOriginal title Tuntematon sotilas (Finnish, 1954)

The Unknown Soldier or Unknown Soldiers is a war novel by Finnish author Väinö Linna, considered his magnum opus. Published in 1954, The Unknown Soldier chronicles the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union during 1941–1944 from the viewpoint of ordinary Finnish soldiers. In 2000, the manuscript version of the novel was published with the title Sotaromaani and in 2015, the latest English translation as Unknown Soldiers. A fictional account based closely on Linna's own experiences during the war, the novel presented a more realistic outlook on the formerly romanticized image of a noble and obedient Finnish soldier. Linna gave his characters independent and critical thoughts as well as displayed them with humane feelings, such as fear and rebellion.

“They made it to the swamp and Kaarna pounced immediately. 'What's going on here? What's this? Look here, you boys have made a mess of this whole thing. Ay-ay-ay! Boys, boys, this isn't how you fight a war. Noo-oo-ooo. Fighting like this isn't going to get you anywhere. Now, we're going to pull ourselves together and cross this little swamp. The others are already at the enemy positions.”

Väinö Linna book The Unknown Soldier

Source: The Unknown Soldier, P. 58.

“See that officer out in front? Soon as his shadow hits that lil' spruce there, he's meetin' his maker. That's what I say. 'Nen after him, I start in on'na rest of 'em. Look at them all lined up! Waddlin' along one after the other like sittin' ducks. Poor bastards! Don't know what's about'ta hit 'em. Pretty soon you're gonna see how the Lord takes His own. Now, You lissen up up there, ol' man! If any a those fella's sinned, You take mercy on him, hear? Be quick now! They're gonna start headin' up to you soon.”

Väinö Linna book The Unknown Soldier

Rokka preparing to ambush a Soviet unit, p. 277.
The Unknown Soldier

“The battalion can operate very well without you. No man is indispensable in a war, no matter who he is.”

Väinö Linna book The Unknown Soldier

Major Sarastie to Rokka during a disciplinary hearing, p. 356.
The Unknown Soldier

“The younger troops assumed their ranks. There they stood, bumbling into lines with a bit of difficulty: Mother Finland's chosen sacrifice to world history.”

Väinö Linna book The Unknown Soldier

The narrator introducing the characters of the novel, p. 2.
The Unknown Soldier