‘I’m actually rather shy, so if I didn’t charge at things then I’d just stand in the hallway, pig-headedly, not daring to go in.’ From Pippi Longstocking congrats popular PiPPi! please across mother the borders For 75 years now she has conquered the world out with – entertained, astonished, questioned and tell me provoked. She is adored by children and held up as a role model and a symbol for independence war – and anti-authoritarianism. When Astrid Lindgren more wrote the first book about Pippi the world was iN with still in the throes of the Second World War, yet she the pippi The international launch of Pippi is as important today as she was then. And Pippi The year was 1941 and Astrid Lindgren’s Longstocking followed directly after the continues to play a significant role by promoting daughter Karin was ill and at home. book’s publication in 1945. Within two years She was bored and wanted her mother childlike imagination, by breaking norms and children Astrid Lindgren at her home on Dalagatan in the book was available in Norwegian, Danish, Astrid to continue to tell her stories and Stockholm, 1946. ©Private/Astrid Lindgren Company feud being an adventurer, as well as being the very best Icelandic and Finnish versions. However, for never stop. ‘Please mummy, tell me more,’ its major international breakthrough it was of friends. she begged. Tired and out of ideas Astrid she put, together with a letter to accompany ‘This year my “literary career” has taken off Pippi Longstocking was first published in it, in an envelope addressed to Albert the meeting between Astrid Lindgren and asked Karin what she wanted to hear about. but will most probably fade as we go on. book form right before Christmas in 1945. would have been this – to show them Bonnier Publishers. Several months later the German head of publishing Friedrich Long live Pippi! the manuscript was returned from Bonnier Pippi has certainly been enthusiastically Just a few months earlier the Second World that it is possible to be in power and It was in that very moment that the name Oetinger that made the biggest difference. not abuse it, because of all feats in life together with a letter of refusal and a reason received by the critics, and also, I believe, HIP HIP HOORAY, War had ended. It was a period of discord, flew into Karin’s head and she said – ‘Tell me for the delay – their publication lists were it seems that’s the most difficult one by the public.’ Astrid wrote in her diary on HIP HIP HOORAY, but also of enterprise and courage. A new of all’ about Pippi Longstocking’. unfortunately already filled. New Year’s Eve in 1945. ippi finally met her German-speak- different Pippi Longstockings that children HIP HIP HOORAY!!! generation was looked upon with high Astrid Lindgren, from Vänkritik – 22 samtal om But it wouldn’t be long before Astrid Astrid Lindgren did not participate in the ing readers in 1949. The success in have come to know and love as ‘their’ Pippi. hopes. dikt tillägnade Olle Holmberg, 1959. utrageously popular with Karin Lindgren got her foot in the door of another debate personally. But when posed a direct Germany was huge and Germany is still one and her friends, the stories of the publishing company. She won second prize er literary career would hardly fade, question about it in an interview, she replied of the countries where Astrid Lindgren’s To many people Pippi is much more than Pippi Longstocking rose from the ruins outspoken girl Pippi kept multi- in the publisher Rabén & Sjögren’s compe- but the unanimous praise that Pippi that she didn’t believe that children actually books are the most popular. The German a fictional character. She has become a of war and debates about how children plying. For three years Pippi only belonged tition for books for girls with ‘Confidences identified with Pippi. ‘Most children under- launch also set the ball rolling for a wider symbol of strength and as such she turns he mood throughout Europe was had received would soon be joined by should be brought up. She was alone, to family story time. But when in 1944 of Britt-Mari’. Elsa Olenius, librarian and stand that there is something pretty remark- international breakthrough. Within a few up in graffiti and on street art murals, as set by the ending of the Second World disapproval. unafraid, happy and kind, the strongest Astrid was forced to stay in bed for weeks, a member of the jury, soon realised Astrid able about a girl who can lift a horse and eat years Pippi was published in Holland, tattoos and in a Google Doodle. Many War. How do you heal from a world girl in the world, and with a bag full of she decided that now was the time to write Lindgren’s talent and helped her edit the ‘The memory of that unnatural girl an entire cake,’ she insisted. France, the United Kingdom, USA, Japan are the politicians who consider Pippi war? To many the answer was to invest gold coins, too. With her entire being she the story down and give it to Karin for her Pippi manuscript. It was then sent in to and her unpalatable adventures and Italy. Today the Pippi books have been Longstocking a role model. It is clear that one’s hopes in children. New liberal ideas was a forceful counter-reaction to the tenth birthday. a new literary competition, this time for in Lindgren’s book may, if she is The criticism was fierce but did not go translated into 76 languages and more than her liberal and anti-authoritarian character in education and psychology gained a tyranny and abuse of power that the world children’s books. remembered at all, become nothing unchallenged. There were many who 60 million books have been sold worldwide. has made an impact far beyond the world foothold. The needs of the child were put ‘ Tell us about Pippi Longstocking’ was had just experienced. Pippi was free and more than a sensation of something welcomed this new generation of children’s of children’s books. Pippi is as unstoppable centre stage. Children should be raised the constant call wherever I went, independent and had no need for grown- In the autumn of 1945, it was announced unpleasant tearing at your soul.’ books. And Pippi fitted right in with the The story remains the same, wherever you today as she was 75 years ago, but now with with love. Punishments and beatings were and I had the feeling that this rather ups. Happily oblivious, she questioned the that Pippi Longstocking had won the com- new literary current that was sweeping are in the world, but the image of Pippi the whole world as her playground. denounced, and play was considered to be The Pippi Longstocking book fantastic creation must have struck a logic and conventions of the adult world, that Astrid Lindgren gave petition. In a flash the book was edited, John Landquist, Aftonbladet 18 August 1946 through children’s literature in Sweden changes. Out of all of Astrid Lindgren’s fundamentally valuable. New reforms were chord in their little souls.’ crossing all lines of social etiquette and to her daughter Karin as a illustrated and printed so that at the very during the 1940s. Out with moralising tales characters she is the one that has been ‘If I had made Pippi a boy, then he launched in child health and education, and behaviour. The time was just right for an birthday gift. Astrid Lindgren in an interview moment Christmas shopping began that and discipline. In with everyday events, re-illustrated the most. Today Ingrid Vang wouldn’t have lasted this long.’ cultural activities for children were widely In the autumn of 1946 Professor John extraordinary girl like this to leap into from 1946, Svenska Dagbladet year in Sweden, a new hot-off-the-press action-packed antics, absurdities and Nyman’s Pippi is becoming more and more promoted. Every child should be able to Landquist wrote a letter to the press about Astrid Lindgren, Sydsvenska Dagbladet children’s rooms everywhere. On page after children’s book was available on shelves of nonsense. And before the end of 1946 a popular around the world, but there have play and to have access to books, theatre, Pippi’s damaging effect on children’s moral 24 September 1995 page she realised their wildest dreams about When it came to typing the text, Astrid shops up and down the country. A book second Pippi Longstocking book had been been, and there still are, a whole bunch of radio, and someone to talk to. It was its own welfare and the book’s literary failings. He being able to decide for themselves and had an idea and added a carbon paper to about an unusual girl who kept a horse in published. Her success was a fact. And that movement, a force which would come to wrote how ‘No normal child eats an entire about being in power. the typewriter, allowing the story about the kitchen, a monkey on her shoulder, and finally put an end to the debate. create the space for a whole new generation cake at a tea party, that suggests a deranged Pippi Longstocking to be produced in two who had a large bag full of gold coins. It of children’s authors. fantasy or an unhealthy obsession.’ His ‘It is of course best if small children copies. One was for Karin. The other copy sold 21,000 copies in two weeks. criticism opened the floodgates. Several ‘With her Pippi Longstocking, Astrid have things a bit organised. Best of all Lindgren has smashed through walls ‘If I’ve had any particular intention contributions from upset parents who if they can organise it themselves!’ of moralism, sentimentality and at all with this Pippi character, apart agreed with Landquist and considered everything sweet and sickly that from entertaining my young readers, it From Pippi Goes Aboard Pippi’s rampage with disgust soon followed. ‘Dangerous rubbish.’ ‘Insane.’ ‘Repulsive has surrounded Swedish children’s r a s c a l .’ literature for decades now.’ Lennart Hellsing, author and children’s fiction critic, 16 November 1946 in Modern ideas in Aftontidningen child education had freedom as their motto; freedom from oppression, force, and violence. Photo: KW Gullers
‘Fear not. I’ll always be fine.’ An exhibition commissioned by The Astrid Lindgren Company. From Pippi Longstocking Producer: Karin Eliasson, Astrid Lindgren’s Näs. | Exhibition design and graphic design: Unna Design. Translator: Anna Tebelius. Thank you to all rightsholders who have kindly allowed their works to be shown in the exhibition. The illustrations are by Ingrid Vang Nyman, unless stated otherwise.