The Howling Miller by Arto Paasilinna is a humorous and thought-provoking novel set in postwar Finnish Lapland. It follows the life of Gunaar Huttunen, a wise but eccentric character who takes over a mill in a country village. Huttunen's ability to howl like a wolf leads to his persecution and ostracization by the villagers, culminating in being sent to an asylum. The story delves into themes of nonconformity, persecution, and the abuse of power, all wrapped in a fantastical and larger-than-life narrative style.
The book portrays Huttunen as a mythic hero who marches to the beat of a different drummer, performing unlikely physical feats and living a Thoreau-like existence in the forest. The author, Paasilinna, weaves a tale that combines elements of humor, sadness, and upliftment, creating a story that is both funny and poignant. Through Huttunen's escapades and interactions with hypocritical characters, the novel explores the complexities of human nature and societal norms in a uniquely Finnish setting.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of mental illness, societal ostracization, and absurdist humor that may touch on sensitive topics.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, primarily focused on the relationship between Gunnar and Sanelma, which adds emotional depth to the story.
From The Publisher:
Gunnar Huttunen arrives in North Finland after the war and buys a dilapidated mill. Despite being a decent and hard-working Finn, he is also an outsider and an eccentric: prone to mood swings, black depression, high elation and a general lack of decorum. He puts on performances at the mill for local children at which he specialises in imitating animals and making fun of the village notables.
Already prejudiced against him by his jibes, the villagers reserve most ire for the howling which Huttunen indulges in at night, which the local dogs join in a delirious chorus. Passionate and outraged by his treatment at the hands of the villagers, it is not long before the accident-prone miller finds that his situation soon spirals out of control . . .
Paasilinna's riotous book revels in a black, rebellious, deadpan humour. It is also a fable about the eternal struggle between freedom and repressive authority.
What can you read after
The Howling Miller?
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