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The Changeling
Lagerlof, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, warmly affirms the power of a mother's love in this timeless tale now available for the first time in English. Richly colored paintings highlight this classic fable of human generosity, sacrifice, and reunion. Full color.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1915
4 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Selma Lagerlöf
1,341 books697 followersSelma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author. In 1909 she became the first woman to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings". She later also became the first female member of the Swedish Academy.
Born in the forested countryside of Sweden she was told many of the classic Swedish fairytales, which she would later use as inspiration in her magic realist writings. Since she for some of her early years had problems with her legs (she was born with a faulty hip) she would also spend a lot of time reading books such as the Bible.
As a young woman she was a teacher in the southern parts of Sweden for ten years before her first novel Gösta Berling's Saga was published. As her writer career progressed she would keep up a correspondance with some of her former female collegues for almost her entire life.
Lagerlöf never married and was almost certainly a lesbian (she never officially stated that she was, but most later researchers believe this to be the case). For many years her constant companion was fellow writer Sophie Elkan, with whom she traveled to Italy and the Middle East. Her visit to Palestine and a colony of Christians there, would inspire her to write Jerusalem, her story of Swedish farmers converting into a evangelical Christian group and travelling to "The American Colony" in Jerusalem.
Lagerlöf was involved in both women issues as well as politics. She would among other things help the Jewish writer Nelly Sachs to come to Sweden and donated her Nobel medal to the Finnish war effort against the Soviet union.
Outside of Sweden she's perhaps most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).
Born in the forested countryside of Sweden she was told many of the classic Swedish fairytales, which she would later use as inspiration in her magic realist writings. Since she for some of her early years had problems with her legs (she was born with a faulty hip) she would also spend a lot of time reading books such as the Bible.
As a young woman she was a teacher in the southern parts of Sweden for ten years before her first novel Gösta Berling's Saga was published. As her writer career progressed she would keep up a correspondance with some of her former female collegues for almost her entire life.
Lagerlöf never married and was almost certainly a lesbian (she never officially stated that she was, but most later researchers believe this to be the case). For many years her constant companion was fellow writer Sophie Elkan, with whom she traveled to Italy and the Middle East. Her visit to Palestine and a colony of Christians there, would inspire her to write Jerusalem, her story of Swedish farmers converting into a evangelical Christian group and travelling to "The American Colony" in Jerusalem.
Lagerlöf was involved in both women issues as well as politics. She would among other things help the Jewish writer Nelly Sachs to come to Sweden and donated her Nobel medal to the Finnish war effort against the Soviet union.
Outside of Sweden she's perhaps most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 30, 2019
Caring for those who are bullied and treated badly - no matter how much you go against mainstream behaviour and thinking - should be rewarded!
That is the message in this tale by Selma Lagerlöf, and it contains all the elements of her master storytelling: dark woods, trolls, social conflicts, family issues, grief, and compassion!
Great story, wonderful author, brilliant prose!
That is the message in this tale by Selma Lagerlöf, and it contains all the elements of her master storytelling: dark woods, trolls, social conflicts, family issues, grief, and compassion!
Great story, wonderful author, brilliant prose!
December 19, 2019
Nobel Laureate Selma Lagerlöf, whose
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
is considered an important contribution to Scandinavian children's literature, turns to the Swedish folk tradition of trolls and changelings, in this powerful picture-book. Following the story of a prosperous farming couple who lose their baby, after their horse bolts in the forest, and the child is left behind, and then picked up by a passing troll, who leaves behind her own baby in his place, The Changeling is a story about doing the right thing, even when it requires us to part ways with those we love, and involves us in terrible suffering.
The farm-wife, though grieving for her own lost child, and initially repulsed by the troll baby, is determined to care for it, and treat it kindly, and eventually becomes its protector, shielding it from her husband's efforts to beat it (beating the changeling was believed to bring the troll mother running, and thereby release the captive human child), and then to kill it. Ostracized and persecuted by her community as a result of her actions - the farm hands and maids start to treat her disrespectfully, and then begin to ignore her altogether - the farm-wife is eventually abandoned by her husband, who refuses to live with the troll. Has she lost everything, by trying to help a being she cannot understand, or love? Or will her righteousness be rewarded...?
A story that touches upon some very dark realities - I always wonder about changeling stories, and what anthropological truths they reveal, perhaps about difficult or sick children, in early cultures that didn't understand them, or their maladies? - The Changeling, despite its happy ending, teaches an important, but rather melancholy lesson: doing right in this world frequently involves great suffering, and may also require putting ethics before loved ones. I liked that Lagerlöf didn't sugar-coat this story - the husband, and the various farm-hands, really made me angry! - as it made the lesson all the more powerful. I'm not surprised, really, to see so few reviews for this one (a great big thank you, Miriam, for bringing it to my attention), because it doesn't sit easily, in the reader's consciousness. It is sharp, and painful, and rather disturbing. In short, it's brilliant! It also boasts, in this English translation, engrossing illustrations by Jeanette Winter.
Recommended to those interested in changeling stories, Swedish folklore, and tales that grapple with truly difficult moral choices.
The farm-wife, though grieving for her own lost child, and initially repulsed by the troll baby, is determined to care for it, and treat it kindly, and eventually becomes its protector, shielding it from her husband's efforts to beat it (beating the changeling was believed to bring the troll mother running, and thereby release the captive human child), and then to kill it. Ostracized and persecuted by her community as a result of her actions - the farm hands and maids start to treat her disrespectfully, and then begin to ignore her altogether - the farm-wife is eventually abandoned by her husband, who refuses to live with the troll. Has she lost everything, by trying to help a being she cannot understand, or love? Or will her righteousness be rewarded...?
A story that touches upon some very dark realities - I always wonder about changeling stories, and what anthropological truths they reveal, perhaps about difficult or sick children, in early cultures that didn't understand them, or their maladies? - The Changeling, despite its happy ending, teaches an important, but rather melancholy lesson: doing right in this world frequently involves great suffering, and may also require putting ethics before loved ones. I liked that Lagerlöf didn't sugar-coat this story - the husband, and the various farm-hands, really made me angry! - as it made the lesson all the more powerful. I'm not surprised, really, to see so few reviews for this one (a great big thank you, Miriam, for bringing it to my attention), because it doesn't sit easily, in the reader's consciousness. It is sharp, and painful, and rather disturbing. In short, it's brilliant! It also boasts, in this English translation, engrossing illustrations by Jeanette Winter.
Recommended to those interested in changeling stories, Swedish folklore, and tales that grapple with truly difficult moral choices.
May 7, 2021
The mother in this story is conflicted but her maternal instincts are stronger than everybody's hate.
A beautiful and touching little book. Great admiration for the author and her storytelling.
A beautiful and touching little book. Great admiration for the author and her storytelling.
October 6, 2011
When a farm couple's lovely baby is stolen and replaced with an ugly, trouble-making troll baby, everyone but the heart-broken mother thinks the changeling should be killed, or at least abused in hopes that his mother will take him back. When she refuses, everyone ostracizes her, but she resolutely protects the unwanted baby.
Illustrations by Jeanette Winter.
Illustrations by Jeanette Winter.
November 22, 2023
Varför är inte detta en barnsagoklassiker i Sverige? Ingen vet men I'm say it: DET BORDE VARA DET (bättre än bröderna grimms sagor imo)
December 2, 2024
trollolololollollolollolololl
January 9, 2022
Kort och mysig!
February 25, 2021
Loved the message and the writing style, although I would've liked the ending more explained
December 10, 2023
Till skolan, blev påmind om när jag praoade i åttan och såg bortbytingen som pjäs på dramaten, väldigt coolt! Vacker berättelse!
February 21, 2024
Inget barn föds ont, inte heller en trollunge. Jag förstår varför John Ajvide Lindqvist är så förtjust i Selma.
September 4, 2024
Började bra, tyckte om stilen och undrade hur det skulle sluta, mycket symbolik och saker att tänka på. Slutet sackade dock och gav väl inte den utdelning jag hade hoppats på, men ändå värd en fyra.
November 24, 2025
Vill läsa mer från trollets perspektiv!
August 29, 2016
A very quick and easy read, this was a beautiful, humanistic story featuring a strong, female protagonist. It was a little preachy and moralistic, especially towards the end, but was overall enjoyable.
May 20, 2014
Very fascinating story.
December 24, 2014
Lyssnade på den här på svenska på Storytel. Älskar den här berättelsen som jag kommer ihåg att vår lärare läste för oss.
September 28, 2015
เหมือนอ่านงานริวโนะสุเกะ อะคุตะงาวะในโชวรูม IKEA
January 12, 2020
En fin saga med ett fint budskap!
February 17, 2025
Jag gillade verkligen den här. Den handlar om allas lika värde och att man ska behandla andra som man själv vill bli behandlad. En berättelse om racism och förakt mot de som är annorlunda än en själv. Men också en berättelse om kärlek och hur kärlek och ett gott hjärta kan leda till goda saker. Karma helt enkelt
December 16, 2020
Ur "Bonniers stora adventskalender" där ett utdrag ur Selma Lagerlöfs biografi av Anna-Karin Palm ingår som sätter novellen i kontext och pratar om hur mycket i sin tid och före sin tid Selma Lagerlöf var på samma gång i frågor om rasism.
August 4, 2020
Härlig gammal historia som jag minns från barndomen. Uppskattar folksagor med älvor och troll väldigt mycket.
December 20, 2020
Att göra en analys av hur teosofiska tendenser synliggörs i denna novell fick mig genast att uppskatta denna pärla på nya nivåer. Detta är ett mästerverk.
October 22, 2021
The idea of changelings. 🥶 Basically a horror story for children.
December 5, 2023
Det är precis i den här typen av sagoberättelser som Selma är som bäst. Helt i klass med Hans Christian Andersen eller bröderna Grimm.
March 4, 2024
Otrolig novell. Vackert språk och historia.
September 23, 2024
10/10 classic for a reason
November 22, 2024
Tänkvärd och fin!
March 31, 2025
En riktig trollsaga. Man missar inte sensmoralen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews