Alexander Slotte

Mathias Alexander Slotte (7 April 1861 – 3 April 1927) was a Finland-Swedish writer, playwright, poet and theatre critic. Working for nearly four decades as a primary-school teacher in Helsinki, he also became one of the central figures in early 20th-century Finland-Swedish theatre and a contributor to the literary criticism of Hufvudstadsbladet. He is best remembered for his poems set to folk melodies, several of which — among them Slumrande toner and Plocka vill jag skogsviol — became part of the established song repertoire of the Finland-Swedish community.

Early life and education Slotte was born in Nedervetil, a Swedish-speaking parish in Ostrobothnia, the son of farmer and parliamentary speaker Carl Johan Slotte.

His personal archive is held by the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.

Selected works Drama En svag stackare (1892) Halfdan skald (1896) Nej ta hålen nan målar min stugå rö! (1909), as Sebastian Friis Den stora islossningen (1912) Utvandrarne (1922)

Poetry Toner från stugor och stigar (1913), with Ernst V. Knape and Jonatan Reuter Bröllopssvit (1916) Sånger och syner (1918)

Prose Karlebybor och andra noveller (1912) Solskensfolk och andra berättelser (1923)