The Unknown Soldier [1957] by Linna, Vaino - 1957

E-150: Collins. Very Good in Good+ dust jacket. 1957. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Hardcover. 8vo. Collins, London, UK. 1957. 384 pgs. First Edition/First Printing. The DJ has shelf-wear present to the DJ (DJ is chipped and worn to the front panel). Bound in red cloth with titles present to the spine and front board. Boards have light shelf wear present. Previous owner's name stamped to the FFEP. Foxing present to the endpapers. The text is clean and free of marks, binding tight and solid. 'There they stood, bumbling into lines with a bit of difficulty: Mother Finland's chosen sacrifice to world history' Unknown Soldiers follows the fates of a ramshackle troupe of machine-gunners in the Second World War, as they argue, joke, swear, cadge a loaf of bread or a cigarette, combat both boredom and horror in the swamps and pine forests - and discover that war will make or break them. One of Finland's best-loved books, this gritty and unromantic depiction of battle honours the dogged determination of a country and the bonds of brotherhood forged between men at war, as they fight for their lives. 'Väinö Linna (1920-1992) was one of the most influential Finnish authors of the 20th century. He shot to immediate literary fame with his third novel, Tuntematon sotilas (Unknown Soldiers) , and consolidated his position with the trilogy Täällä Pohjantähden alla (Under the North Star). E-150; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 384 pages .