Arsonist Asser Toropainen harbours no regrets for the many churches he has burnt. Yet on his deathbed, the old codger softens up enough to invite his grandson Eemeli round – and gives him a mission. Eemeli must not only establish a Dying Church Foundation, he must also build a new church to replace the ones that his grandfather burned.

Using an old wooden church as a model, Eemeli erects a handsome log building in the backwoods of Sotkamo. The new church attracts a diverse host of people, and they soon form a lively, self-subsisting community. Life in the best village in the world is far better than wallowing in the recession outside.

After the turn of the millennium, numerous minor wars break out and lengthy negotiations eventually succeed in uniting them into a Third World War. When measured against this yardstick, Eemeli Toropainen’s rebuilding project seems to be quite a reasonable endeavour.

Although this novel tackles modern times and our future with a highly critical eye, its effervescent humour ensures that the story moves effortlessly forward in classic Paasilinna style.  

Rights sold
French (Denoël, Gallimard, France Loisirs)
Swedish (Brombergs)
German (Lübbe)
Estonian (Varrak)
Italian (Iperborea)

See other books from this author:

Adam and Eve	Airships of Mr. Liljeroos	Alive at His Own Funeral	Cold Nerves, Hot Blood
Furry Valet	God Almighty	God Almighty	Good Heavens!
Heavenly Blunders	Life Short, Rytkönen Tall	Life Short, Rytkönen Tall	Looking for Grandfather
Prisoners of Paradise	Suloinen myrkynkeittäjä	The Bawdy Prayer Grinder	The Charming Mass Suicide
The Charming Mass Suicide	The Finnish Book of Snouts	The Flight of the Maidens	The Forest of Hanged Foxes
The Forest of Hanged Foxes	The Happy Man	The Happy Man	The Herb Garden of Unhanged Scoundrels
The Howling Miller	The Howling Miller	The Last Lap of the Human Race	The Reverend’s Beastly Valet
The Son of the Thunder God	The Son of the Thundergod	The Sweet Poison Cooker	The Ten Shrews
The Year of the Hare	Tuomiopäivän aurinko nousee	Ulvova mylläri	Vapahtaja Surunen
War Horse