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Contemporary Fiction Views: Ways of life collide in the far north [1]
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Date: 2023-12-12
The clash of culture and religion creates chaos in The End of Drum-Time, a novel that depicts a range of characters portraying what life was like, how it is changing and inevitable outcomes.
Hanna Pylväinen's book takes place in the mid-1800s in northern Scandinavia. A small village is located partly no-man's land and partly everyone's land. Most people speak two or three languages in order to conduct trade. Reindeer and alcohol are the main items people have and want. Essential to the way of life of the Europeans there, although they don't seem to realize it, are the Sámi reindeer herders whose migratory life includes the village.
The novel opens with a service in the Lutheran church. The pastor is a well-regarded orator, especially highly esteemed by himself. As his sermon gets under way, he is trying to deliver one of his favorite lines. But a Sámi enters late and stands in the middle of the aisle. Lars Levi finally turns the moment to his advantage, asking the herder if he has been awakened and is there to confess his sins. Turns out, Biettar is. And then there is a mild earthquake.
The moment brings about one of those occasional times when people decide to become religious. They decide to follow Lars Levi, whose church overfills, as does the tiny parsonage where there are already about seven children. The pastor's family is poor, but people come to the house to listen to their proclaimed leader. Things are even more cramped for the two oldest daughters. Willa and Nora are coming of age, both hard workers and knowing they don't dare to have dreams. Because dreams don't come true.
Dreams don't come true for most of the people in the area. They certainly did not for Henrik, who was sent up to the village to run a shop built and owned by his powerful uncle, the dean of pastors in the region. Uncle Frans thinks they can make a lot of money selling alcohol, especially to the Sámi. Biettar was one of Henrik's best customers, with one of the largest debts, until he decided to convert and give up drink.
Biettar's son, Ivvár, is now left to take care of their diminished herd by himself. They lost a lot when their herd ran through a field that had been planted by settlers in between their annual route through the area. Now both father and son have run up big debts in the shop for their liquor. Ivvár has no interest in being awakened. He is a herder through and through, and that's all he wants to do. That, and tease the girls who know how good-looking he is.
He teased one wealthy daughter of a fellow herder, who went back to her boyfriend. But now he's caught Willa's eye. And she has caught his. When she can no longer continue with the only life she has known, Willa decides to go to the sea with the herders.
As this story of lovers from different cultures unfolds, The End of Drum-Time focuses on many aspects of how the pair affect, and are affected by, who they are and where they live. Pylväinen's novel is a fascinating look at how faith, religion and tradition play a stronger role than what the characters may have expected. The novel also shows how money and power can overrule everything else. All the characters are firmly creatures of their time, place and family, which makes for a powerful novel.
How the outlanders react to situations they have helped bring about moves the narrative. Drum-Time refers to the time before Christians came to the region. Ivvár, whose family has included shamans of the old ways, knows that time is ending, and has been ending, and will continue towards its end.
The End of Drum-Time was a National Book Award finalist this year. It is a story to discover.
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