Broth

The novel focuses on human relationships and the psychological breakdown of a marriage. Juha, a hardworking but plain farmer, lives in the Finnish countryside with his beautiful wife Marji in a not-so-happy marriage. One day, a handsome merchant named Shemeikka asks for a place to stay for the night, setting off a chain of events that leads to tragedy.

The story will appeal to readers of classic world literature and fans of Nordic writing. The timelessness of the book is evidenced by the fact that it has been published in more than ten languages. The significance of the text is also demonstrated by a number of film adaptations, including one by director Aki Kaurismäki.

The author of the novel is Juhani Aho (1861–1921), one of Finland's most important writers. His novels and short stories are considered classic works of Finnish literature.

In the afterword to the Czech edition, Markéta Hejkalová captures the book's significance: “Juha is not just a reverent repayment of a cultural debt, nor a handbook for a better understanding of Finland and its relationship with Russia. Above all, Juha is a profound novel about love, devotion, infidelity, and betrayal, as well as a portrait of a world full of struggle and violence. It is a novel about despair, but also about hope.”