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Aleksis Kivi

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Born: October 09 1834

Died: 3030 12 18721872

Aleksis Kivi was a Finnish author who wrote the first significant novel in the Finnish language, Seven Brothers . Although Kivi was among the very earliest authors of prose and lyrics in Finnish language, he is still considered one of the greatest of them all.

Aleksis Kivi was born at Nurmijärvi, Finland, into a tailor's family. In 1846 he left for school in Helsinki, and in 1859 he was accepted into the University of Helsinki, where he studied literature and developed an interest in the theater. His first play was Kullervo, based on a tragic tale from the Kalevala.

From 1863 onwards, Kivi devoted his time to writing. He wrote 12 plays and a collection of poetry. The novel Seven Brothers took him ten years to write. Literary critics, especially the prominent August Ahlqvist, disapproved of the book, at least nominally because of its "rudeness" – Romanticism was in its forte at the time – but maybe also because it was written in the southwestern dialect of Finnish, while Ahlqvist himself preferred the northeastern dialects of his homelands. The Fennomans also disapproved of its depiction of not-so-virtuous rural life that was far from their idealized point of view, and his excessive drinking may have alienated some.

In 1865 Kivi won the State Prize for his still often performed comedy Nummisuutarit . However, the less than enthusiastic reception of his books was taking its toll and he was already drinking heavily. His main benefactor Charlotta Lönnqvist could not help him after the 1860s. Physical deterioration and the development of schizophrenia set in, and Kivi died in poverty at the age of 38.

In 1995-1996, Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara wrote an opera about Kivi's life and works. In 2002 director Jari Halonen's movie The Life of Aleksis Kivi premiered in Finnish cinemas.

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Aleksis Kivi

Aleksis Kivi

Books from Aleksis Kivi

Seitsemän veljestä

Nummisuutarit

Kullervo

Kanervala

Kootut Runot

Aleksis Kivi's Heath Cobblers (Nummisuutarit) and Kullervo

Runot

Sydämeni laulu: Valikoima runoja

Perinteisen runon kauneimmat 1

Seven Brothers

Aleksis Kiven mestariteokset III

Aleksis Kiven mestariteokset II

Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden helmiä

Yö ja päivä

Valitut teokset

الأخوة السبعة

Siedmiu braci

Kaukametsä: Aleksis Kiven runoja

Odes

Kauhukertomukset