Astrid Lindgren

by Eva-Maria Metcalf

In this first book-length study intended for American readers of the Swedish author - and the first to compare story line, character development, and narrative style in the original Swedish and in English translation - Eva-Maria Metcalf offers up not only a lighthearted appreciation of the single-minded Pippi and the other quirky heroes and heroines that populate Lindgren's books but also a serious assessment of Lindgren's thematic concerns, especially her profound commitment to children's rights. Lindgren, also known for her activism in animal rights (Sweden's most recent animal protection legislation was named for her), holds the interests of society's less powerful at heart; like Pippi, she rarely misses an opportunity to challenge the authority of a foolhardy adult or to question a wrongheaded social or moral convention. Most Lindgren stories provide for children "a dreamworld of wish fulfillment," Metcalf writes; obstacles are overcome, problems solved, cruelty exposed, needs for love and comfort eventually met, and desires for such simple pleasures as whipped-cream cakes and rice pudding sated. The author's "fictional places are projections of Lindgren's visions of a better society and a more humane life for both children and adults," serving "not only as an escape but as an inspiration for her readers." Never "cautionary tales or moralizing fables," Metcalf concludes, Lindgren's stories "carry within them the complexity and inscrutability of folktales."

This broad survey of Lindgren's fiction - from the books that recall the author's native, rural, turn-of-the-century Smaland to the books of "happy anarchy" about freckle-faced Pippi and the lazily rebellious Karlsson-on-the-Roof to the powerful quest narratives of Mio, My Son, The Brothers Lionheart, and Ronia, the Robber's Daughter - makes clear her gifts as a storyteller with a deep and abiding respect for her primary audience: children.

157 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening and readable, Eva-Maria Metcalf's Astrid Lindgren is a great, nay a wonderful academic (but also never too pompously intellectual) introduction to the life and work of famous Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren (and part of Twayne's World Authors series). And yes, I especially appreciate the author's analysis of the translations of Astrid Lindgren' oeuvre into English and why especially for the American market, there were not only many cosmetic changes, but that with some of the novels, sadly, entire episodes were redacted, even entire chapters omitted. But that being said, and while I do appreciate the "translations of Astrid Lindgren for the American market" information and details provided by Eva-Maria Metcalf, this sorry fact also massively and lastingly infuriates me (and to the extent, that it also makes me increasingly loath to even consider reading any more of Astrid Lindgren's novels, stories and even picture books in American English translation, unless absolutely necessary for scholarly purposes). And finally, of course and appreciatively, the appendices, notes and select bibliography that appear at the back of Astrid Lindgren are extensive and even intensive (however, as this book was published in 1995, any post 1995 tomes, both primary and secondary, will of course not be included). Still most highly recommended is Astrid Lindgren (and even though not in current print, nevertheless at present still relatively easy to obtain second-hand and for reasonable prices at that).

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

"With Pippi Longstocking, Lindgren paid tribute to and overcame the nineteenth century girl's book. Pippi's assertiveness, her red hair, freckles, and de facto orphanhood bear traces of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, one of Lindgren's favorite books during her own childhood, as mentioned in the previous chapter. But Pippi is Anne taken to the extreme. The name of Pippi's abode, for example, is a playful reference to Gronkulla, the name of Anne of Green Gables' home in the Swedish translation. Gronkulla, which means Green Hills, becomes Villekulla in Pippi Longstocking. Villervalla in Swedish means disorder or chaos, and chaos is exactly what Pippi intoduced into the girl's book. When Pippi Longstocking first appeared in Sweden in 1945, the book upset readers' expectations by inverting value patterns, role models, and the stereotypical uniformity and predictability of the traditional girl's book. Just as Pippi resolutely puts her horse on the porch of her house because "he'd be in the way in the kitchen, and he doesn't like the parlor," Lindgren turned a few things upside down and brought new life to that old, dilapidated house of the traditional book for girls."

from Chapter 3

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is maybe the only english-language biography of astrid lindgren (author the pippi longstocking books, along with tons of other books for children) in existence. lindgren has a much higher profile in her native sweden, where she is not only known for her children's literature, but also her exhaustive animal rights activism. a lot of her books haven't been translated into english for americans such as myself, or the translations aren't that great & the books have largely gone ignored. this biography read kind of like a college thesis. it addressed lindgren's personal life, how she came up with the pippi longstocking stories & got them published, some of her other most famous characters, the role of feminism & anti-authoritarian attitudes in her work (including the debate that continues to rage as to whether her characters are role models for anarchic freedom, or whether they are begging out for stern guidance & discipline--are they celebratory or cautionary, basically), her popularity in sweden, etc. it was really interesting to learn that lindgren is kind of an anti-capitalist in some ways. she's had a lot of offers to turn her characters into money-making machines, by licensing the rights to make pippi longstocking dolls or a theme park of one of the towns where several of her books are set (sorry i can't remember the details about these books i haven't read--i've only read the pippi books & ronia, the robber's daughter), but she refused. unfortunately, the biography failed to hold my interest. it seems like lindgren is a really interesting character, & it would almost be worth learning swedish just so i could read all the original books & do my own research, but this book didn't really do it for me. i hope someday someone writes another astrid lindgren biography that is a little more engaging, because she seems like such a great subject.