'Bombardement von Åbo' Summary

The novel tells the story of the unexpected British bombardment of Åbo, Finland. Governor General Baraban Barabanowitsch, his wife, the cook Agafia, and her Finnish fiancé Tullela, all experience the chaotic and absurd consequences of the attack. Spitteler uses the bombing as a backdrop for a satirical look at life in Åbo, poking fun at the social hierarchy and the characters' eccentricities. The governor's pompous attempts to maintain order, his wife's melodramatic reactions, and Agafia and Tullela's budding romance amidst the chaos provide the narrative with a light-hearted and humorous tone. The novel ultimately explores the absurdity of war and its impact on the lives of ordinary people.