THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER (316 pp.)Voino LinnaPutnam ($4).
The Finns in the past 18 years have fought two wars with Russia, both beyond their capacity to win. The first was the Winter War of 1939 when Finland thrilled the world by holding the Red army at bay for 3½ months. The second, and the subject of this impressive novel, took place 15 months later, and found Finland alongside Hitler in his invasion of the Soviet Union. Author Linna, a textile worker who served in that war, writes with a ferocity and explicitness certain to jolt the half-patronizing image of "plucky little Finland" held...
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