The Brofeldts were a priestly family: Theodor was a relatively well-known revivalist preacher whose sermons were published in 1917 as Rovasti H. G. Th.

The last one is one of his most famous works and has been twice as adapted an opera, by Aarre Merikanto and by Leevi Madetoja, and to film four times, most recently in 1999 by Aki Kaurismäki.

[5] His novel Yksin (Alone), published in 1890, controversially bold by the standards of Finnish literature in that epoch, is a roman à clef.

Its tale of unrequited love is the autobiographical novel of Aho's passion for Aino Järnefelt who, at that time, was engaged to Jean Sibelius, whom she would later marry.

In addition to his novels, Aho wrote a number of short stories of distinct style, called "splinters" ("lastuja" in Finnish).

The first and most famous of the short stories is Siihen aikaan kun isä lampun osti (When Father Brought Home the Lamp), depicting the effect of the innovation on people living in the countryside.