Meet New Books
Book Cover

Seven Brothers

Save:
Find on Amazon

Seven Brothers by Aleksis Kivi is a novel set in rural Finland, following the lives of the seven Jukola brothers who are left parentless after their mother's death. The story revolves around their boisterous and loyal nature, as they navigate through adulthood, facing challenges, bickering among themselves, and eventually maturing into responsible individuals. The narrative not only focuses on the brothers' adventures and internal relations but also serves as a parable about life in Finnish rural culture during the 19th century. The novel captures the essence of Finnish countryside life, depicting comical episodes, violent quarrels, and the brothers' journey towards maturity and self-discovery.

The book is praised for its modern feel, juxtaposing gritty dialogues with beautiful descriptions of the Finnish landscape in a lyrical tone. The character development, particularly the evolution of the seven brothers and the portrayal of strong female characters, adds depth and richness to the story. Despite being published in 1870, Seven Brothers is considered a classic in Finnish literature for its engaging plot, realistic portrayal of rural life, and its exploration of themes such as coming of age, rebellion, and redemption.

Characters:

The characters exhibit development from immature brawlers to responsible adults, with strong female characters adding depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines gritty realism with lyrical descriptions, reflecting both humor and the beauty of nature.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around the journey of seven brothers navigating adulthood, familial responsibilities, and personal growth in rural Finland after becoming orphans.

Setting:

Set in the 19th century Finnish countryside, the environment significantly impacts the brothers' experiences and development.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but gradually accelerates as themes of maturity and responsibility unfold.

Notes:

Seven Brothers was first published in 1870 and is the first novel written in Finnish.
Before this, Finnish novels were mainly written in Swedish or Latin.
The novel faced harsh criticism for its realistic style during a time when Romanticism was favored.
Aleksis Kivi, the author, suffered a mental breakdown and died shortly after the novel was published.
The story follows seven orphaned brothers living in rural Finland who struggle with responsibilities after their father's death.
The characters exhibit rough behavior, including drinking, fighting, and bickering among themselves.
The novel evolves from humor and conflict to themes of maturity and hard work.
It features beautiful descriptions of the Finnish countryside, contrasting the brothers' roughness.
Despite being set in the 1800s, the women characters in the novel are depicted as strong and witty.
The brothers' adventures can symbolize the journey of every Finn, exploring themes of nature, rebellion, and redemption.
Some found the beginning of the novel hard to read due to the brothers' immaturity, but appreciated their character development later on.

From The Publisher:

Along with The Kalevala, Aleksis Kivi's Seven Brothers is Finland's most celebrated literary treasure. It remains the greatest Finnish novel of all time, and is a classic among the classics in Finnish literature. 280 pages ISBN 0-9737165-2-5

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.