Astrid Lindgren: A Critical Study

by Vivi Edström, Eivor Cormack (Translator)

This engaging work offers new insights into the writing career of one of the twentieth century's greatest children's book authors: Astrid Lindgren. Born in 1907, Lindgren grew up in a small town but left home for Stockholm at eighteen. She made her debut as an author at thirty-seven. Pippi Longstocking followed a year later. In addition to her amazing productivity-more than forty books-Lindgren also worked as editor in chief of Sweden's largest children's book publisher, which was her own publisher, until 1970. Vivi Edström discusses the themes most important to Lindgren's writing, including her use of fantasy and the influence of classical fairy tales on her work, as well as her creation of fictional realms where children live beyond the control of adults.

Vivi Edström is a former professor of children's literature. In 1994 she received the Rolando Anzilotti Award, an international prize honoring studies in children's literature, for this book. She lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

Genres: Nonfiction

327 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2000