Independence

<p><strong><em>Independence</em></strong> is a story in three parts, named for three passionate women – Aino, Salme and Leena – who struggle to achieve independence, whether from a war, a lover or a domineering father. It’s a family story, as well as the story of Finland, a small European nation fighting to be born from the savage civil war of 1918. </p><p>The author’s grandmother Aino was imprisoned aged 19, during the civil war, for the crime of feeding the ‘wrong’ fighters. Aino’s daughter Salme fell in love with an ambitious athlete – charismatic, domineering and frankly mad – and endured a catastrophic divorce. Their daughter – Leena – became a teenage Finnish swimming champion but rebelled against a gruelling training regime and ran away from home in search of freedom. </p><p>It is a story of survival, but also of joy and eventually, forgiveness.</p>