House of Orphans
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Set in Finland in the year 1901: Eeva, the young orphaned daughter of a revolutionary, is sent from the orphanage to work as housekeeper for Thomas, a widowed country doctor. Her challenging, independent, enigmatic presence disturbs Thomas as much as it fascinates him. Their relationship will shatter all the certainties of his life. Meanwhile, Eeva is drawn back to Helsinki, to the comrades of her childhood, and in particular to Lauri, the son of her father's friend. It is a world full of danger. For this is Finland in political ferment - the power of the Russian Empire over its subject peoples is growing more oppressive, but resistance to the Tsar's rule is growing too, both in Finland and in Russia. Some call such resistance terrorism; others call it a fight for freedom. Just as Helen Dunmore's "The Siege" is a novel about how huge public events bear down on private lives, so "House of Orphans", while a spellbinding story of love and loneliness is also about the tension between reform and revolution, and a country emerging into Independence.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
`An extraordinary novel' Guardian
`A marvellous richness of texture ... to be in the hands such an accomplished write is a great pleasure' Spectator
`Vivid and exciting ... Dunmore creates a beautiful sense of stillness ... she conveys a passion for Finland's icy landscape' Observer
`Eeva is a glittering character' The Times
`A portrait of a country at war is brilliantly achieved ... a spellbinding tale' Red
`Extraordinary ... combines a luminous delicacy of observation with raw emotional power to haunting effect' Sunday Telegraph
`Beautifully written ... a story about us all' Evening Standard
`Part love story, part tragedy ... Dunmore on dazzling form. Everyone should read her work' Independent on Sunday
'Outstanding, a sheer pleasure to read. Dunmore is a remarkable storyteller' Daily Mail --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rural Finland at the turn of the 20th C.,
By p_roux (Espoo, Finland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: House of Orphans (Paperback)
I enjoyed Dunmore's description of life in rural Finland at the turn of the century. There was an attention to detail which was fascinating and her portrayal of the characters at the orphanage and the doctor and his family was sympathetic and well-researched. The poverty of the farming communitites is a stark contrast to the comforts of the Swedish speaking bourgeoisie in the early 1900s. With the doctor's help Eeva moves back to Helsinki, and her life amidst the political turmoil of the new city is again an interesting contrast to her childhood years in the security and the purity of the countryside.Although I enjoyed the beginning of the book I felt we lost Eeva after she moved back to Helsinki. The narrative switched without transition from one character to another without developing to any climax. I was surprised when I reached the end of the book, and was frustrated that some of the characters had slid out of the novel without me noticing.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another world,
This review is from: House of Orphans (Paperback)
This is one of those incredibly satisying novels that takes you into an unfamiliar world and then propels you along through terrific characters and a satisfying plot. I never knew I'd be interested in Finland in the 1900s, but I was gripped, and taken into two contrasting worlds of Helsinki the new modern city and the backwoods of the Finnish countryside. It's a love story -- a triangular one -- and it's also about revolution and terrorism and full of suspense.The characters are by turns noble, touching and sinister -- and sometimes all three. Thoroughly recommended.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended,
By Jaybird (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: House of Orphans (Paperback)
Dunmore once returns to a historical novel, as she did in The Siege, which remains one of my favourites by her, along with A Spell in Winter. All her books, whether contemporary or historical, take their plot from the characters.This book is set in Finland in turbulent (and fascinating) political times, but wears its research lightly. It is the story of Eeva, daughter of a political activist, who is sent to an orphanage and from there into service, working for a country doctor. This is a wonderful book, deft and elegant, without being difficult or condescending.
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