Petra Rautiainen’s first novel, Land of Snow and Ashes, takes us to the snowy terrain of Lapland, offering a different perspective on the region rich in history, including memories of genocide. Unlike many World War II historical fiction works, Rautiainen delves into the Nazi atrocities against the Sámi people, a unique narrative angle.
Translated by David Hackston from Finnish, Land of Snow and Ashes unfolds across two timelines: one set in 1944 during the German occupation just before Finland’s peace agreement with Russia, and the other five years later when Inkeri, the Finnish protagonist, visits Lapland. Inkeri, a journalist, arrives to cover the reconstruction of Lapland and the efforts to integrate the remaining Sámi population into Finnish society. This integration process began centuries ago with the introduction of Catholicism and education, aiming to settle the nomadic Sámi people who herd reindeer. In a conversation with Inkeri, an elderly Sámi, Piera, reflects on the past and uncertain future, drawing attention to the changing times.
The story orbits around Bigga-Marja, Pieri’s granddaughter bearing both Finnish and Sámi names. She stands at the crux of the narrative, having witnessed Sámi genocide by the Nazis and the subsequent Finnish government’s attempts to assimilate the Sámi populace with the aid of scientists. However, this assimilation effort takes a sinister turn when researchers arrive in the village, triggering traumatic memories for Bigga-Marja, leading her to flee into the perilous cold. Despite her grandfather’s efforts to find her, the emotional distance she feels persists.
Simultaneously, Inkeri embarks on a quest to uncover the fate of her husband, a prisoner of war during the Nazi regime. Assisted and obstructed by a diverse cast of characters, including her lodger Olavi, Inkeri navigates her exploration of the Sámi culture, aligning with Rautiainen’s focus on intercultural dynamics and individual encounters across her writing.
Symbolism plays a significant role in Land of Snow and Ashes, with themes like light and eyes recurring throughout the narrative. Inkeri, a photographer who manipulates light, shields her eyes with dark glasses from the reflective snow glare, symbolizing her struggle to see clearly. The motif of eyes especially resonates, referencing Mengele’s disturbing experiments to create “Aryan” eyes.
The novel’s second timeline unveils a soldier’s diary entries from 1944, offering a haunting account of the concentration camp’s atrocities and cultural clashes. The revelation that body parts are harvested for Mengele’s experiments sheds light on the diarist’s gradual unraveling of the horrors within the camp. In a poignant twist, Inkeri discovers her husband Kaarlo’s complicity in these atrocities, leading to a gripping revelation for the reader, though Inkeri remains unaware, creating a poignant narrative balance.
Despite its weighty subject matter, Land of Snow and Ashes culminates on a hopeful note as Inkeri chooses to stay in Lapland, immersing herself in the Sámi culture with the assistance of Bigga-Marja, who becomes her companion. The novel unfurls as a beautifully written thriller that compels readers to uncover the truth behind this dark phase of Finnish history.
