Astrid Lindgren goes to Nangiyala...

January 28, 2002 4:22 AM

Astrid Lindgren goes to Nangiyala... She wrote some of the most read and loved childbooks in the world. Have you read her books about Pippi Longstockings and The brothers Lionhart?
posted by Ulwen (10 comments total)

lindgren´s books were among the favorites of mine when i was a child. we also lost tove jansson, the moomin-mother last year - are thery any great childrens´writers left to survive the millennium?
posted by inkeri at 4:46 AM on January 28, 2002

That's rotten news.
posted by pracowity at 4:50 AM on January 28, 2002

The Pippi Longstocking novels are delicious, kind-spirited books - great for kids - and Pippi's one of literature's finest female protagonists. The Brothers Lionheart is a completely different kind of work, all the more wonderful because of this contrast.

Rest in great peace, Ms. Lindgren.

I too am still mourning the passing of Tove Janssen, inkeri.
posted by Marquis at 5:43 AM on January 28, 2002

remembering. mrs. broome read us pippi longstocking in 4th grade. she read us a wrinkle in time and where the red fern grows as well. good teacher.

do teachers still take time to read to kids anymore?
posted by grabbingsand at 6:18 AM on January 28, 2002

Ronja Røverdatter. Karlson På Taket. Pippi Langstrømpe. I read all these books in norwegian as a kid, and kept them right next to my Roald Dahl books on the shelf. I'll read 'em to my kids if I ever have any. What a gift she had. Too bad many of her stories never really caught on in the States... Poor translations, I wonder?
posted by kahboom at 7:42 AM on January 28, 2002

It's preposterous that one of the most beautiful children's book ever written "The Brothers Lionheart", by a well known author no doubt, is not in print (in the english version). Someone has posted a text copy online, and I consider this to be an "ethical copyright violation", specifically that the public good of making this work available outweighs the loss of incentive for copyright owners to reap profits from their legal protection, in this case utterly squandered.

Read it for your self, or when a child you know starts asking about life and death.

Original comment from Raph Levien
posted by Ulwen at 8:05 AM on January 28, 2002

I hadn't realized she was still alive. What lovely books she wrote.

-Mars
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:37 AM on January 28, 2002

I grew up with all her books- my swedish parents were wise enough to have separate copies for all the kids as we tended to get rather possesive of our favorites... Emil's books are still re-read today- Bros. Lionheart is amazing- my sisters and I spent quite a few summers playing detective inspired by her Bill Bergstrom, Master Detective books. A lot of good memories...
posted by Seth at 10:35 AM on January 28, 2002

What a discovery her books were as a child. This is sad news, but her legacy of imaginative, exciting, beautifully written books lives on, as do the social changes she worked towards. Thankyou, Astrid Lindgren.
posted by lucien at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2002

Too bad many of her stories never really caught on in the States... Poor translations, I wonder?

More likely it was the godawful movie version that came out in 1974.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:05 PM on January 28, 2002