Juhani Aho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juhani Aho
Born	11 September 1861  Lapinlahti
Died	8 August 1921  (aged 59) Helsinki
Alma mater	University of Helsinki
Occupation	Journalist, writer, novelist

Juhani Aho, originally named Johannes Brofeldt, was a very important Finnish writer and journalist. He was born on September 11, 1861, and lived until August 8, 1921. Juhani Aho was so well-known for his writing that he was nominated for the Nobel prize in literature twelve times!

Early Life and Education

Juhani Aho was born in a place called Lapinlahti in 1861. His parents were Henrik Gustaf Theodor Brofeldt and Karolina Fredrika Emelie Brofeldt. His family had many priests. His father was a famous preacher.

Juhani had two younger brothers, Kaarlo and Petter. They also changed their names to Finnish ones, just like Juhani. They all took the last name Aho.

From 1872 to 1880, Juhani Aho went to Kuopion Lyseo. This was one of the few high schools that taught in Finnish. While he was there, he started using "Juhani Aho" as his pen name.

In the 1880s, he studied at the University of Helsinki. He became friends with people who had strong political ideas. A group led by Elisabeth Järnefelt helped him with his writing. They were important in starting a realistic style of writing in Finland.

Aho's Writing Career

Juhani Aho wrote many different kinds of stories and books. His style changed over time.

Early Realistic Works

He started by writing in a realistic style. His first novel, Rautatie (which means Railroad), came out in 1884. Many people think this is one of his most important books.

Moving to Neoromanticism

Later, Aho began to write in a style called neoromanticism. This means his stories became more imaginative and focused on feelings. Some of his books from this time are Panu and Kevät ja takatalvi.

His novel Juha is also from this period. It is one of his most famous works. Juha has been turned into an opera twice. Famous composers Aarre Merikanto and Leevi Madetoja created these operas. The story has also been made into a movie four times. The most recent film version was in 1999 by Aki Kaurismäki.

Yksin and Personal Life

In 1890, Aho published a novel called Yksin (meaning Alone). This book was quite daring for Finnish literature at the time. It was a story based on real people and events.

The book told the story of Aho's feelings for Aino Järnefelt. At that time, Aino was secretly engaged to Jean Sibelius, who later became a very famous composer. Sibelius was at first angry when he read the book. But later, he and Aho became close friends. They even lived as neighbors in Järvenpää. Aho married Venny Soldan-Brofeldt in 1891.

Short Stories and Journalism

Besides his novels, Aho also wrote many short stories. He called them "splinters" (lastuja in Finnish). These stories had a unique style. They could be about politics or just everyday life.

One of his most famous short stories is Siihen aikaan kun isä lampun osti. This means When Father Brought Home the Lamp. It describes how new inventions affected people living in the countryside. Today, the title is a common Finnish saying. People use it when talking about new technology.

Juhani Aho also helped start Päivälehti. This newspaper later became Helsingin Sanomat, which is the biggest newspaper in Finland today. He also wrote for a cultural magazine called Valvoja.

Hobbies and Later Life

Juhani Aho loved to go fly fishing. In 1906, he discovered the Huopanankoski rapids in Viitasaari. For 14 years, he would go there every spring and autumn to fish. He also spent summers fishing in Laukkoski, Pornainen.

Juhani Aho passed away in Helsinki in 1921. The well-known photographer Claire Aho is his granddaughter.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Juhani Aho para niños