''Juha'' is a novel by
Juhani Aho
Juhani Aho, originally Johannes Brofeldt (11 September 1861 – 8 August 1921), was a Finnish author and journalist. He was nominated for the Nobel prize in literature twelve times.
Early life
Juhani Aho was born at Lapinlahti in 1861. His p ...
, published in 1911. It is considered one of Aho's most important works: after its publication, Aho consolidated his role as the "national writer" of Finland. The novel is at once characterized as one of his most classical and most modern works. Although taking the form of an epic, ''Juha'' does not lack drama in its plot.
Hannes Närhi played Juha in Tapiovaara's film, Mathias Taube in Stiller's film, Eino Kaipainen in Särkä's film and Sakari Kuosmanen in Kaurismäki's film. Based on Juha, Mikko Roiha directed a dance theater work of the same name, which premiered at Korjaamo in January 2010.
Plot
Shemeikka, a travelling merchant from
White Karelia
Karelia ( Karelian and fi, Karjala, ; rus, Каре́лия, links=y, r=Karélija, p=kɐˈrʲelʲɪjə, historically ''Korjela''; sv, Karelen), the land of the Karelian people, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance fo ...
, seduced Juha's wife Marja. Marja left Juha's household in
Swedish Finland with Shemeikka to
Russian Karelia, where she found his "
harem
Harem ( Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A har ...
" with many other women serving in near slavery.
Marja lost favour with Shemeikka, despite giving birth to his child. She succeeded in returning to Finland. Juha believed she was abducted. When they went to Russia to retrieve her child, Juha assaulted Shemeikka, who explained that Marja left of her own will.
Adaptations
*
Aarre Merikanto
Aarre Merikanto (29 June 1893 – 28 September 1958) was a Finnish composer.
He was born in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, the son of Elise "Liisa" Häyrynen (1869-1949) and the famous romantic composer, professor Oskar Merikanto (1868-1 ...
: opera ''
Juha
Juha is a masculine given name of Finnish origin derived from Johannes (or John in English language contexts). Notable people with the name include:
* Juha Alén
* Juha Gustafsson
* Juha Hakola
* Juha Harju
* Juha Haukkala
* Juha Hautamäki ...
'', written 1922, premiered 1958.
*
Leevi Madetoja
Leevi Antti Madetoja (; 17 February 1887 – 6 October 1947) was a Finnish composer, music critic, conductor, and teacher of the late-Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as one of the most significant Finnish ...
: opera ''
Juha
Juha is a masculine given name of Finnish origin derived from Johannes (or John in English language contexts). Notable people with the name include:
* Juha Alén
* Juha Gustafsson
* Juha Hakola
* Juha Harju
* Juha Haukkala
* Juha Hautamäki ...
'', written 1931–34, premiered 1935.
*
Nyrki Tapiovaara: film
''Juha'' (1937)
*
Toivo Särkkä
Toivo Jalmari Särkkä (20 November 1890, Mikkeli – 9 February 1975, Helsinki), born Toivo Hjalmar Silén, was a Finnish film producer and director. He was CEO of the production company Suomen Filmiteollisuus.
Before his career in filmmakin ...
: film
*
Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (; born 4 April 1957) is a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He is best known for the award-winning '' Drifting Clouds'' (1996), ''The Man Without a Past'' (2002), ''Le Havre'' (2011) and ''The Other Side of Hope'' (20 ...
: silent film
''Juha'' (1999).
*
Mauritz Stiller
Mauritz Stiller (born Moshe Stiller, 17 July 1883 – 18 November 1928) was a Swedish film director of Finnish Jewish origin, best known for discovering Greta Garbo and bringing her to America.
Stiller had been a pioneer of the Swedish film ...
: film in , 1921
* Mikko Roiha: dance piece ''Juha,'' January 2010.
References
* Toiviainen, Sakari: Nyrki Tapiovaaran tie; Suomen elokuva-arkisto, Valtion painatuskeskus, Helsinki 1986,
* Aho, Juhani: ''Juha'', 1911, Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura 1994,
1911 novels
Finnish novels adapted into films
Novels adapted into operas
{{Europe-novel-stub