Deep River

Deep River, by Karl Marlantes

Fleeing Russian oppression in the 1890s, Finnish people came to southwest Washington State to become loggers, lumbermen, fishermen, and unionizers. The historical novel, Deep River tells a story of the place and time that is engaging and illustrative.

In the 1950s and 1960s, I lived in Raymond, Washington, where the second language of my neighborhood was Finnish. I didn't learn the language, but I knew the people. I delivered their papers and mowed their lawns. Needless to say, I was a kid, and didn't know their history, but I do now, thanks to the writing of Karl Marlantes. The people of his story are just one generation removed from those I lived among. Deep River beautifully tells a tale of the Finnish workers, families and industries, while exposing a history that was mostly unknown to me.

If you like the historical fiction of Ken Follett, you'll like this book!

And a note: For folks like me, who know Southwest Washington, the place the author writes about is not the actual Deep River which flows into the Columbia. Instead the river he writes about is the Naselle River which flows into Willapa Bay. Happily in the author's notes, Mr. Marlantes admits his literary license and says that Deep River is a good title and no one will object except the locals. Loving the book, I don't object too much.

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