Aleksis Kivi was a 19th century author. His promising career was cut short when he died in 1872 at the age of 32. He was most respected for his plays. His only novel called “Seven Brothers” was heavily criticized for an unsavory portrayal of Finns when published in 1870. Since then, however, Seitsemän Veljestä has been acclaimed as perhaps the first, if not the most important novel written in the Finnish language. This bronze statue of the author sitting on a pedestal was created by Wäinö Aaltonen. The tribute was erected in front of the Finnish National Theater in 1939.
