BOOK REVIEW
by Lisa Herrala daCunha

Isaac Polvi, The Autobiography of a Finnish Immigrant
edited by Joseph Damrell

Isaac’s story is fascinating, beginning in Finland, with the many details of living off the forests and rivers and sharing his catches with hungry neighbors. He holds your attention with his strong determination to survive, grow and care for his family in times when famine, epidemics, oppression and poverty were commonplace.

The work he did at estates in feudal Finland in the late 1800s, people he met in his travels and the trials of separation from his parents at the young age of thirteen reveal some of the socio-economic history of Finland. His trip to America, reunion with family, various employments and struggles during the Depression give a detailed picture of Finnish immigration. Anyone with family from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will find special resonance with Isaac Polvi and his real challenges. Those who love animals will appreciate Isaac’s understanding and uncanny ability to relate to wild and domesticated animals.

This story was almost lost. Isaac’s handwritten autobiography was not found for more that twenty years after his death. Joseph Damrell edited this and found a publisher, so now, you too, can enjoy this gripping account of a young man's life, adventures and views on unfair labor practices, temperance and equality, among other topics.

This autobiography is published by North Star Press of St.Cloud, Inc. I heartily recommend it. The cost is $12.95 for paperback. The ISBN is 0-87839-066-9. The address is: North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc., PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302