Astrid Lindgren

From Vimmerby to the world

Astrid Lindgren was born in 1907 in Vimmerby, Sweden. She passed away the age of 94, after a life full of artistic production.As a writer, publisher and samhällsdebatör she did much to renew children's literature and society's view of children and young people's rights. 

Travel to Vimmerby is to travel to a small, idyllic town in the middle of the Småland forests. Astrid Lindgren's childhood home, Nose, located right on the edge. One can imagine that her childhood, a hundred years ago, was spent among the fields and cows and on forest paths. Noisy, but in reality.

But Astrid Lindgren was much more than nostalgia and rural romance. She was a spokesperson for peace and democracy and against all forms of violence. She participated in the public debate as a lobbyist in speeches and newspaper articles. In their opinions and ideas, she was far ahead of its time.

In 1945, Pippi Longstocking. Its success was immediate, as is the resurrection. Parents were outraged. Teachers were upset. Some critics warned of moral decay. How could Pippi Longstocking was so dangerous?

Feminist in the forties
She made her entrance at a time when girls had to sew, make beds for the dolls and have newly ironed bows in their hair. Children should obey without asking why.

Pippi walked without any obligation to you straight into the boys and adult men in the world. She was full of confidence and wit. She could press to anyone. Pippi not sat and waited for the prince to come and get her on his white steed. She had her own horse, which she also raised his outstretched arms as she got worse.

With Pippi Longstocking Astrid Lindgren revolutionized children's literature.Not just in Sweden, but throughout the world. But it's not just Pippi has found its audience abroad: the Astrid Lindgren appreciated in many parts of the world.

How can a girl from Vimmerby in Småland get to the stories that touch people in such diverse cultures? As a consolation gift for a girl in Poland and a boy in Thailand to laugh? The answer is probably pretty simple: A good story is a good story anywhere. Hits story is deeply human, makes us dream and laugh as we wheeze, so it makes little difference whether the moderately stout man in his prime is called Kalli, Kljukec or Karlsson on the Roof.

Astrid told me that she always wrote for the child within himself. In this way she reached out all over the world.

She never forgot what it's like to be a child
Astrid Lindgren was born in 1907 and passed away in 2002, 94 years old.Growing up in the neighborhood of Vimmerby was characterized by love and play. The love came from the parents, Samuel August and Hanna in the Hult.The play came from Astrid and her three siblings, Gunnar, Stina and Ingegerd. "We played and played, so it was a miracle that we did not play killed us," Astrid told himself. Many of Astrid's beloved characters and environments can be traced to her own childhood. Some reformed, but easily recognizable to those who attended.

A good memory is sometimes described as the most important characteristic to be able to write good children's books. You have to remember how close the grass was, how it smelled and felt. One must be able to withdraw the butterflies in your stomach when you climbed a tree.

Astrid remembered all his life, all over his body, how it was when she was little. Barn lethal beams, the sawdust that got stuck in the hair of the saw, the rye bread sandwiches with cold pork tasted during snack time at school. She remembered how horrible and wonderful it was to climb high and jump.

She never forgot how wonderful but also how difficult it is to be small. What imagination could be both first aid and last hope for some children.

She renewed children's book
The success of Pippi Longstocking rescued publisher Rabén & Sjögren from bankruptcy. The publishing house employee Astrid Lindgren as children's book editor at half-1947th Children's author who previously had low status was now off the ground. For 25 years, supported and encouraged the Astrid Lindgren promising young writers.

During this time it came up a whole new generation of Swedish-speaking children's author: Lennart Hellsing, Tove Jansson, Ake Holmberg and Gösta Knutsson. So, except that she always took the children's party in their own books, so she helped to transform and renew an entire industry. In addition, she became one of the most beloved and collected children's authors in the world.

To award a prize to the Astrid Lindgren Memorial seems not only logical and correct, but as a way to continue her important work for children's rights and their right to quality literature. For, unfortunately, only literary heroes who can live forever.