author
Niilo Aejmelaeus
1812–1854
A Finnish pastor and early prose writer, he is remembered as a pioneer of Finnish-language fiction. His 1838 work Haaksirikko is often described as the first Finnish novella, written in the spirit of Romanticism.
1 Audiobook
Haaksirikko: Suomalainen perustuskielinen Taru
by Niilo Aejmelaeus
About the author
Born in Vaasa on September 11, 1812, Niilo Aejmelaeus — also known as Nils Aejmelaeus — was a Finnish pastor and writer. He studied at the University of Helsinki and later worked in Porvoo as a teacher of theology before serving as a pastor.
Aejmelaeus holds a small but important place in Finnish literary history. His prose tale Haaksirikko: suomalainen perustuskielinen taru, published in 1838, is usually mentioned as the first novella or short novel written in Finnish. The story is known as an idealistic love tale shaped by the Romantic style of its time.
He died in Porvoo on August 20, 1854, at just 41 years old. Although his body of work was limited, he is still remembered as one of the early builders of Finnish-language literature.