It tells the tragic story of a farming couple where the husband is an alcohol abuser.

[1] Edmund Fuller of Saturday Review wrote that the book is effective, striking, in many ways.

Yet in spite of the sparseness and compactness of the book [Waltari] manages to make it almost lush, or purple, in some of its passages.

It is good of its kind, but I am afraid it is more of an interesting item in relation to Waltari's body of work than an enhancement of his reputation.

[2]The book has been adapted for film twice, in 1938 by Wilho Ilmari as Vieras mies tuli taloon and in 1957 by Hannu Leminen as The Stranger.