The most famous character in astrid lindgren's fairy tales. The amazing life of an amazing storyteller

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia (Swedish Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren, née Ericsson, Swedish Ericsson; November 14, 1907, Vimmerby, Sweden - January 28, 2002, Stockholm, Sweden) - Swedish writer, author of a number of world famous books for children, including Carlson Who Lives on the Roof and Pippi Longstocking. In Russian, her books became known and very popular thanks to the translation of Lilianna Lungina.

Astrid Eriksson was born on November 14, 1907 in southern Sweden, in the small town of Vimmerby in the province of Småland (Kalmar County), into a farming family. Her parents - father Samuel August Ericsson and mother Hanna Jonsson - met when they were 13 and 9 years old. 17 years later, in 1905, they married and settled on a rented farm in Näs, a pastor's estate on the very outskirts of Vimmerby, where Samuel began to study. agriculture... Astrid became their second child. She had an older brother, Gunnar (July 27, 1906 - May 27, 1974) and two younger sisters- Stina (1911-2002) and Ingegerd (1916-1997).

I'm a little ghost with a motor! he shouted. - Wild, but cute!

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

As Lindgren herself pointed out in the collection of autobiographical sketches "My Fictions" (1971), she grew up in the age of "horse and convertible." The main means of transportation for the family was a horse-drawn carriage, the pace of life was slower, entertainment was simpler, and the relationship with the surrounding nature was much closer than today. Such an environment contributed to the development of a love of nature in the writer - this feeling is imbued with all Lindgren's work, from eccentric stories about the daughter of Captain Pippi Long stocking, until the story of Ronnie, the robber's daughter.

The writer herself always called her childhood happy (there were many games and adventures in it, interspersed with work on the farm and in its environs) and pointed out that it was this that served as a source of inspiration for her work. Astrid's parents not only felt deep affection for each other and for their children, but also did not hesitate to show it, which was a rarity at that time. The writer spoke about the special relationship in the family with great sympathy and tenderness in her only book not addressed to children - Samuel August from Sevedstorp and Hannah from Hult (1973).

As a child, Astrid Lindgren was surrounded by folklore, and many jokes, fairy tales, stories that she heard from her father or from friends later formed the basis of her own works. Love for books and reading, as she later admitted, arose in the kitchen of Christine, with whom she was friends. It was Christine who introduced Astrid to an amazing, exciting world that you could get into by reading fairy tales. The impressionable Astrid was shocked by this discovery, and later she herself mastered the magic of the word.

No, in my opinion, you are not sick.
- Wow, how ugly you are! - Carlson shouted and stamped his foot. - What, I really can't get sick, like all people?
- Do you want to get sick ?! - the Kid was amazed.
- Sure. All people want it! I want to be in bed with a high-high temperature. You will come to find out how I feel, and I will tell you that I am the most severe patient in the world. And you ask me if I want something, and I will answer you that I do not need anything. Nothing but a huge cake, a few boxes of cookies, a mountain of chocolate, and a big, big cooch of candy!

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

Her abilities became apparent already in primary school, where Astrid was called "Wimmerbyun's Selma Lagerlöf", which, in her own opinion, she did not deserve.

After school, at the age of 16, Astrid Lindgren began working as a journalist for the local newspaper Wimmerby Tidningen. But two years later, she became pregnant without being married, and, leaving the position of junior reporter, left for Stockholm. There she graduated from the secretary courses and in 1931 found a job in this specialty. In December 1926, her son Lars was born. Since there was not enough money, Astrid had to give her beloved son to Denmark, to the family of adoptive parents. In 1928, she got a job as secretary at the Royal Auto Club, where she met Sture Lindgren (1898-1952). They married in April 1931, and after that Astrid was able to take Lars home.

After marriage, Astrid Lindgren decided to become a housewife in order to fully devote herself to caring for Lars, and then of her daughter Karin, who was born in 1934. In 1941, the Lindgrens moved into an apartment overlooking Stockholm's Vasa Park, where the writer lived until her death. Occasionally undertaking secretarial work, she wrote travel descriptions and rather banal fairy tales for family magazines and Christmas calendars, which gradually honed her literary skills.

How old am I? - asked Carlson. - I am a man in the prime of life, more I can tell you nothing.
- And at what age is the prime of life?
- In any! - answered Carlson with a satisfied smile. - In any case, at least when it comes about me. I am a handsome, intelligent and moderately well-fed man in his prime!

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

According to Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking (1945) was born primarily thanks to her daughter Karin. In 1941, Karin fell ill with pneumonia, and every night Astrid told her all sorts of stories before bed. Once a girl ordered a story about Pippi Longstocking - she invented this name right there, on the go. So Astrid Lindgren began to write a story about a girl who does not submit to any conditions. Since Astrid then championed a new and controversial idea of ​​parenting with a child's psychology in mind, the challenge to convention seemed to her an amusing thought experiment. If we consider the image of Pippi in a generalized sense, then it is based on the innovative ideas that appeared in the 1930s-1940s in the field of child education and child psychology. Lindgren followed and participated in the controversy unfolding in society, advocating for an education that would take into account the thoughts and feelings of children and thus show respect for them. The new approach to children affected her creative manner, as a result of which she became an author consistently speaking from a child's point of view.

After the first story about Pippi, loved by Karin, Astrid Lindgren over the next years told more and more evening tales about this red-haired girl. On Karin's tenth birthday, Astrid Lindgren made a shorthand record of several stories, from which she then composed a book of her own making (with illustrations by the author) for her daughter. This original Pippi manuscript was less elaborate stylistically and more radical in ideas. The writer sent one copy of the manuscript to the largest Stockholm publishing house Bonnier. After some deliberation, the manuscript was rejected. Astrid Lindgren was not discouraged by the refusal, she already understood that composing for children is her vocation. In 1944, she took part in a competition for the best book for girls, announced by the relatively new and little-known publishing house Raben and Sjögren. Lindgren won second prize for Britt-Marie Pours Out Her Soul (1944) and her publishing deal.

In 1945, Astrid Lindgren was offered the position of children's literature editor at Raben & Sjögren. She accepted the offer and worked in one position until 1970, when she officially retired. All her books were published in the same publishing house. Despite being extremely busy and combining editorial work with household duties and writing, Astrid turned out to be a prolific writer: if you count picture books, she produced a total of about eighty works from her pen. The work was especially productive in the 40s and 50s. In 1944-1950 alone, Astrid Lindgren wrote a trilogy about Pippi Longstocking, two stories about children from Bullerby, three books for girls, a detective story, two collections of fairy tales, a collection of songs, four plays and two picture books. As you can see from this list, Astrid Lindgren was an unusually versatile writer, willing to experiment in a wide variety of genres.

It’s sad if there’s no one to shout “Hello, Carlson!” When you fly by.

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

In 1946, she published the first story about the detective Kalle Blumkvist (Kalle Blumkvist plays), thanks to which she won the first prize at literary competition(Astrid Lindgren did not participate in the competitions anymore). In 1951, a sequel followed, "Kalle Blumkvist at Risk" (in Russian, both stories were published in 1959 under the title "The Adventures of Kalle Blumkvist"), and in 1953 - the final part of the trilogy, "Kalle Blumkvist and Rasmus" (was translated into Russian in 1986). "Kalle Blumkvistom" the writer wanted to replace the readers of the cheap thrillers glorifying violence.

In 1954, Astrid Lindgren wrote the first of her three fairy tales - "Mio, my Mio!" (trans. 1965). This emotional, dramatic book combines the techniques of a heroic legend and fairy tale, and it tells the story of Boo Wilhelm Ohlsson, the unloved and neglected son of adoptive parents. Astrid Lindgren has repeatedly resorted to a fairy tale and a fairy tale, touching upon the fate of lonely and abandoned children (this was the case before "Mio, my Mio!"). To bring consolation to children, to help them overcome difficult situations - this task was not the least of the writer's work.

In the next trilogy - "The Kid and Carlson, who lives on the roof" (1955; trans. 1957), "Karlson, who lives on the roof, has flown again" (1962; translated. 1965) and "Carlson, who lives on the roof, is playing pranks again ”(1968; trans. 1973) - again the fantasy hero of a kind spirit is acting. This "moderately well-fed", infantile, greedy, boastful, pouty, self-pitying, egocentric, although not devoid of charm, lives on the roof of the apartment building where the Kid lives. As an imaginary friend of the Kid, he is a much less wonderful image of childhood than the unpredictable and carefree Pippi. The Kid is the youngest of three children in the most ordinary family of Stockholm bourgeois, and Karlson enters his life in a very specific way - through the window, and he does this every time the Kid feels superfluous, left out or humiliated, in other words, when the boy feels sorry for himself ... In such cases, his compensatory alter-ego appears - in all respects "the best in the world" Carlson, who makes the Kid forget about the troubles.

Calm, only calm! Now I will overtake you, and then you will have fun!

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

In 1969, the renowned Royal Drama Theater in Stockholm staged Carlson Who Lives on the Roof, which was unusual at the time. Since then, dramatizations based on Astrid Lindgren's books have been constantly performed in both large and small theaters in Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe and the United States of America. A year before the staging in Stockholm, the play about Carlson was shown on the stage of the Moscow Satire Theater, where he is still played (this hero is very popular in Russia). If on a global scale, the work of Astrid Lindgren attracted attention primarily due to theater performances, then in Sweden the fame of the writer was greatly facilitated by films and television series based on her works. The first to be filmed were the story of Kalle Blumkvist - the film premiered on Christmas Day 1947. Two years later, the first of four films about Pippi Longstocking appeared. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the renowned Swedish director Olle Hellbum created a total of 17 films based on Astrid Lindgren's books. Hellboom's visual interpretations, with their ineffable beauty and responsiveness to the writer's word, have become classics of Swedish children's cinema.

Over the years literary activity Astrid Lindgren earned more than one million crowns selling the rights to publish her books and their film adaptations, to release audio and video cassettes, and later also CDs with recordings of her songs or literary works in her own performance, but did not change her lifestyle at all. Since the 1940s, she lived in the same - rather modest - Stockholm apartment and preferred not to accumulate wealth, but to distribute money to others. Unlike many Swedish celebrities, she was not even averse to transferring a significant portion of her income to the Swedish tax authorities.

Only once, in 1976, when the tax they collected amounted to 102% of her profits, Astrid Lingren protested. On March 10 of the same year, she went on the offensive, sending an open letter to the Stockholm newspaper Expresssen, in which she told a story about a certain Pomperipossa from Monismania. In this fairy tale for adults, Astrid Lindgren took the position of a layman or a naive child (as Hans Christian Andersen did before her in The King's New Dress) and, using it, tried to expose the vices of society and general pretense. In the year when parliamentary elections were coming, this tale became an almost undisguised, crushing attack on the bureaucratic, self-righteous and self-interested apparatus of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, which had been in power for over 40 years in a row. Finance Minister Gunnar Strang in the parliamentary debate contemptuously spoke out: “She knows how to tell fairy tales, but does not know how to count,” but later was forced to admit that he was wrong. Astrid Lindgren, who, as it turned out, was right from the beginning, said that she and Strang should have exchanged jobs with each other: "It is Strang who knows how to tell stories, but does not know how to count." This event led to a large protest, during which the Social Democrats were heavily criticized for both the tax system and their disrespectful attitude towards Lindgren. Contrary to popular misconception, this story did not become the reason for the political defeat of the Social Democrats. In the fall of 1976, they received 42.75% of the vote and 152 of 349 parliamentary seats, only 2.5% worse than the result of the previous 1973 elections.

Listen, dad, - said Kid suddenly - if I'm really worth a hundred thousand million, then can't I get fifty crowns in cash now to buy myself a little puppy?

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

The writer herself was a member of the Social Democratic Party all her adult life - and remained in its ranks after 1976. And she objected primarily to the distance from the ideals that Lindgren remembered from her youth. When she was once asked what path she would have chosen for herself if she had not become a famous writer, she replied without hesitation that she would like to take part in the social democratic movement of the initial period. The values ​​and ideals of this movement have played - along with humanism - a fundamental role in Astrid Lindgren's character. Her inherent desire for equality and caring attitude towards people helped the writer overcome the barriers erected by her high position in society. She treated everyone with the same cordiality and respect, be it the Swedish prime minister, the head of a foreign state, or one of her child readers. In other words, Astrid Lindgren lived according to her convictions, which is why she became an object of admiration and respect, both in Sweden and abroad.

Lindgren's open letter with the tale of Pomperipossa was so influential because by 1976 she was not only a famous writer: she enjoyed not only fame, but also great respect in Sweden. An important person, a person known throughout the country, she became thanks to numerous appearances on radio and television. Thousands of Swedish children have grown up listening to the author's books by Astrid Lindgren on the radio. Her voice, her face, her opinions, her sense of humor have been familiar to most Swedes since the 50s and 60s, when she hosted various quizzes and talk shows on radio and television. In addition, Astrid Lindgren won the people over with her speeches in defense of such a typically Swedish phenomenon as universal love to nature and reverence for its beauty.

In the spring of 1985, when the daughter of a Smoland farmer spoke publicly about the harassment of farm animals, the prime minister himself listened to her. Lindgren heard about the mistreatment of animals on large farms in Sweden and other industrialized countries from Christina Forslund, a veterinarian and professor at Uppsala University. Seventy-eight-year-old Astrid Lindgren sent an open letter to the largest newspapers in Stockholm. The letter contained another tale - about a loving cow protesting against mistreatment of livestock. With this tale, the writer began a campaign that lasted three years. In June 1988, the Animal Welfare Act was passed, which was given the Latin name Lex Lindgren (Lindgren Act); however, his inspirer did not like him for his vagueness and deliberately low efficiency.

And in general, will adults pay attention to some tiny house there, even if they stumble over it?

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

As in other cases where Lindgren stood up for the well-being of children, adults or the environment, the writer started from her own experience and her protest was caused by deep emotional excitement. She understood that at the end of the 20th century it was impossible to return to small-scale cattle breeding, which she witnessed in her childhood and youth on her father's farm and in neighboring farms. She demanded something more fundamental: respect for animals, since they are also living beings and endowed with feelings.

Astrid Lindgren's deep belief in nonviolent methods of conversion extended to animals and children alike. “Not Violence,” she called her speech when she was presented with the 1978 Peace Prize for the German Book Trade (she received for the story “The Brothers Lionheart” (1973; translated. 1981) and for the writer's struggle for peaceful coexistence and a dignified life for all) Living creatures). In this speech, Astrid Lindgren defended her pacifist beliefs and advocated raising children without violence and corporal punishment. “We all know,” Lindgren reminded, “that children who are beaten and subjected ill-treatment, they themselves will beat and abuse their children, and therefore this vicious circle must be broken. "

Astrid Sture's husband died in 1952. In 1961, her mother died, eight years later - her father, and in 1974 her brother and several close friends died. Astrid Lindgren more than once faced the mystery of death and pondered over it a lot. If Astrid's parents were sincere adherents of Lutheranism and believed in life after death, then the writer herself called herself an agnostic.

The kid did not exactly understand what it meant to be a man in his prime. Maybe he is also a man in his prime, but he just doesn't know about it yet?

Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia

In 1958, Astrid Lindgren was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, which is called the Nobel Prize in Children's Literature. In addition to awards for purely children's writers, Lindgren received a number of prizes for "adult" authors, in particular, the Karen Blixen medal established by the Danish Academy, the Russian Leo Tolstoy medal, the Chilean Gabriela Mistral Prize and the Swedish Selma Lagerlöf Prize. In 1969, the writer received the Swedish State Prize for Literature. Her achievements in the field of philanthropy were recognized by the German Bookselling Peace Prize for 1978 and the Albert Schweitzer Medal for 1989 (awarded by the American Institute for the Improvement of Animal Lives).

The writer died on January 28, 2002 in Stockholm. Astrid Lindgren is one of the world's most famous children's writers. Her works are imbued with fantasy and love for children. Many of them have been translated into over 70 languages ​​and published in over 100 countries. In Sweden, she became a living legend, as she entertained, inspired and consoled more than one generation of readers, participated in political life, changed laws and significantly influenced the development of children's literature.

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren - photo

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren - quotes

It’s sad if there’s no one to shout “Hello, Carlson!” When you fly by.

And in general, will adults pay attention to some tiny house there, even if they stumble over it?

The kid did not exactly understand what it meant to be a man in his prime. Maybe he is also a man in his prime, but he just doesn't know about it yet?

Listen, dad, - said Kid suddenly - if I'm really worth a hundred thousand million, then can't I get fifty crowns in cash now to buy myself a little puppy?

Calm, only calm! Now I will overtake you, and then you will have fun!

It's nice to talk about really light and whole creative people that have enriched the world bright colors... One of them is Astrid Lindgren, whose biography, unfortunately, is distorted by many myths. Her works have been translated into more than 100 languages, and outstanding personality continues to attract attention. Interest in her is not waning, since in our time researchers find her unpublished manuscripts.

Childhood, family

Astrid grew up in a friendly, kind and hardworking family with four children. The little ones adored their father, Samuel August Eriksson, a respected country pastor and picturesque farmhouse owner who was a wonderful storyteller. Perhaps thanks to the seeds of fiction he sowed, in addition to the world famous writer, her two younger sisters, Stina and Ingrid, also became journalists.

The mother of the heroine of our story, Hannah Johnson, was an ideal mother and a diligent hostess, for each of her children, Hannah was like a sun. Astrid Lindgren always remembers her childhood with gratitude. The biography of any child, in her opinion, for his own good and further development should contain lines telling about communication with nature. Astrid recalls her childhood with gratitude to her parents in two words: security and freedom.

Lindgren's parents' house, legendary hospitable in the village of Vimemrby, whose heart was a kitchen with a magnificent oven, has become now a famous Swedish museum. Readers' interest in the writer continues unabated even now.

Youth

When her journalists asked what period of life is the most miserable: "Youth and old age", - Astrid Lindgren answered. Her biography confirms this statement. The inner uncertainty of youth made the girl assert herself. She was the first in the village to cut her braid and began to wear a man's suit for originality.

The talented girl got a job for 60 kroons a month for a local newspaper. It was the owner of this newspaper, Reinhold Bloomberg, who at that time was divorcing his wife, who seduced her. On his part, at that time the father of seven children, it was undoubtedly an immoral act. As a result, the girl found herself in a position. And the biography of Astrid Lindgren since that time has been distinguished not only by the nuances of growing up. In the life of the future writer, difficult times have really come.

The birth of a son

At that time in Sweden, single mothers were practically outlawed: not only were they not entitled to even minimal social protection, their children were often taken away from them by a court decision.

The pastor's daughter, in order to hide the pregnancy out of wedlock from the strict Protestant flock, in agreement with her parents, left to give birth to neighboring Denmark, to Copenhagen. Relatives who lived there helped her find a clinic for childbirth, as well as a foster mother for her son Lars, who was born. Having given the child to the care of strangers, which she later regretted all her life, the mother herself left for Stockholm in search of work, dreaming of getting her son back.

Studying, and then working as a typist and stenographer, having barely accumulated enough money, Astrid Lindgren was in a hurry to go to Lars'. The biography of the writer is especially difficult and touching. Mom felt in her soul the helplessness and loneliness of the child, coming to Denmark for the weekend, she saw those sad eyes. Later this impression will be reflected in the book "Rasmus the Tramp".

Marriage

In Stockholm, Lindgren worked for the Royal Motoring Society. The head of this organization was her future husband Nils Sture Lindgren. They got married in 1931. This made it possible for the writer to finally pick up her son. His husband adopted him. Astrid Lindgren's life began to improve. She connected them with her husband true love... They, deeply intelligent people in love with literature, really suited each other.

Nils Lindgren's personality illustrates a fact from his life. In those years, the family's earnings were rather modest, and one day he went to buy himself a suit for specially set aside money in advance. He returned home with a radiant face, but without a suit, with an effort carrying heavy bundles of books in his hands - complete collection the writings of Hans Christian Andersen. Three years later, they had a daughter, Karen.

Political activity

However, in the future, their married life was not cloudless. Astrid, on the eve of World War II, to the displeasure of her apolitical husband, showed her involvement in politics. I believed in myself and studied literature with inspiration - this is how it happened worldwide famous writer Astrid Lindgren.

What civilizational challenges did a resident of a neutral country imagine? Recently published, discovered in 2007 in the attic, the writer's war diaries tell about her worldview. Astrid, like most of the educated population of Sweden, believed that her country was threatened by "two dragons": Hitler's fascism, which enslaved Norway, and Stalin's Bolshevism, which attacked Finland in order to "protect the Russian population." Lindgren saw salvation for humanity in the recognition of the ideas of social democracy by the world. She joined the corresponding party.

Start into big literature

Although her first fairy tales were published in magazines and almanacs back in the 1930s, the Swede herself outlines the beginning of her work in 1941. It was at this time that Astrid Lindgren's daughter Karen, suffering from pneumonia, asked her mother to tell her before bedtime stories about the fictional girl Pippi Longstocking. It is interesting that the name of her heroine was invented by a girl who is in the heat. Every evening, a caring mother told her recovering child new story about a fabulous baby. She lived alone, was kind and fair. She loved adventure, and they happened to her. Pippi, with a slender build, was distinguished by incredible physical strength, she had a strong cheerful character ...

Thus, a wonderful collection was created, published by the new publishing house "Raben and Shegren". He brought the writer worldwide fame.

Boldin Autumn Lindgren

The end of the forties - the beginning of the 50s was marked by a creative upsurge for the writer. At this time, three more books were written about Pippi, two books - about Gorlastaya Street, three books - about Brit Maria (a teenage girl), a detective about Kali Blunkvist, two fairy-tale collections, a collection of poetry, four transcriptions of her books into theater productions, two comic books.

It would seem that everything is going great. However, there was great opposition from Astrid Lindgren. The list of the above works literally for each position found its way to the reader only after a tough polemic of the writer with literary criticism... And this is not surprising, because the Swede pushed her former literary favorites into supporting roles. The books about Pippi were most attacked. Patriarchal Sweden was difficult to perceive new pedagogy, where the center was not a teaching adult, but a living child with his questions and problems.

Literary heritage

In the readers' reviews of the writer's works, her work is compared to a chest filled with treasures, in which every child or even an adult can find something in tune with the movements of his soul. Different books Astrid Lindgren wrote to children about her composition and plot. A list of the most read among them is presented below:

1. "The Adventures of Emil from Lenieberga".
2. "Pippi Longstocking" (collection).
3. Three stories about Malysh and Karlson.
4. "Mio, my Mio!"
5. "Children from Gorlastaya Street" (collection).
6. "Rasmus the Tramp".
7. "Brothers Lionheart".
8. "Solnechnaya Polyana" (collection).

The writer herself was the most fond of Rasmus the Tramp of her works. This book was especially close to her. In it, Astrid poured out the deeply felt and experienced in the difficult three-year period of forced separation from her son. A woman living in another country could not be with him when he began to speak, play the first simple children's games, when he learned to use a spoon, ride a tricycle. The Swede suffered that she was not there when her son was ill, and he was treated. Astrid carried this guilt throughout her life.

Of course, the stories about Pippi and Carlson are the most popular stories Astrid Lindgren has written. The adventures of these heroes are the most attractive and original for most children. However, as testimonials testify, for many people other works from the list are more valuable.

The motive of loneliness and confrontation with a powerful tyrant is heard in "Myo, my myo." The theme of service, love and courage is uniquely revealed in Brothers Lionheart. However, even in these difficult books, partly tragic, touching the soul of the reader, there is an enduring optimism and unyielding courage of an open and dignified person. They Astrid teaches children to remain human under any circumstances.

A difficult path to recognition

The Children's Book Council, the most authoritative international organization, awarded the writer the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1958. The prospect of huge circulation of translations into other languages ​​appeared. However, in each individual country, the works of the Swede were faced with questions of changing the details in the interests of the notorious political correctness. So, Peppy's father, the Negro king, inevitably turned into a colored one, then into a king of cannibals.

Lindgren did not go away from tense discussions, she supported others. She became the editor of children's literature at the Raben and Shegren publishing house. Its popularity grew. Astrid was entrusted to write the script for the TV show "We are on Saltkrok Island", which then grew into a book of the same name. This timeless piece was destined to become Sweden's national family summer holiday brand. By that time, the writer became known throughout the world. Photos by Astrid Lindgren have been featured on the front page of leading newspapers; the publisher where she worked founded her name literary prize.

The paradox of translating books about Carlson into Russian

The writer's work in time fell on the Khrushchev time of the "thaw". She showed Soviet children that it was not a collective at all. more important than personality that a doubting child, not an excellent student, can also be sympathetic and attractive.

In 1957, The Adventures of Carlson was published in the USSR, in 1963 - Rasmus the Tramp, and in 1965 - Mio, My Mio and Pippi Longstocking. As you know, in the USSR at the time iron curtain published those foreign writers who either died long ago, becoming classics, or showed themselves as friends of the USSR.

It turned out quite differently with Astrid Lindgren. And her books, and political position did not fall under the tracing paper of the Soviet official censorship. It was liberating literature, helping us to accept ourselves as we are. "Carlson" helped to better understand his soul, became a lifesaver for millions of Soviet children, bound hand and foot by the "good boy's code."

Here the role was played by the talent of the translator Liliana Lungina. Feeling in Karlson the spirit of freedom abounding against the background of the urban loneliness of the Kid, the translator worked a miracle: instead of a negative character in Sweden, a positive, cheerful and dynamic character appeared in Russian translation. The Swedish writer herself was perplexed: why did they love her greedy and arrogant hero in Russia? The real reason was Astrid Lindgren's universal talent. Reviews of Soviet children with gratitude came not only to book publishers. Children's performances of "Carlson" were sold out in theaters, in two of the most famous of which Spartak Mishulin successfully played the main character, and Alisa Freindlich played the Kid.

The cartoon about Carlson also enjoyed extraordinary success. Its highlight was the role of Freken Bock performed by Ranevskaya.

Social activity

In 1978, the German Publishers' Guild presented the International Peace Prize at the Frankfurt Trade Fair. The writer's response was called "No to Violence." Here are some of her theses expressed by Astrid Lindgren. Books for children, in her opinion, should teach young readers to be free. In her opinion, violence should be removed from the life of society, starting with children. After all, it has been proven that the basis of a person's character is laid before the age of 5. Unfortunately, little citizens often learn from their parents the lessons of violence. Also from TV shows. As a result, they get the impression that all problems in life can be solved by violence.

Thanks in no small part to the writer, a law was passed in Sweden in 1979 prohibiting corporal punishment in the family. Today it can be said without exaggeration that the living generations of Swedes were brought up on her books.

Astrid Lindgren's death in 2002 shocked the people of her country. People asked their leaders over and over again: "Why hasn't such a humanist been awarded the Nobel Prize?" In response, the government instituted the annual State Writer Prize, which honors the best children's works.

Working on the Astrid Lindgren archive

Now work in progress over the writer's archive. New documents are revealed that shed light on her personality. Thanks to them, she appears more clearly, her emotions, thoughts, worries are manifested for readers. A resident of neutral Sweden, then just a housewife, Astrid Lindgren reveals to us her point of view on the action of war.

Unfortunately, there is no translation in Russia yet. However, millions of our people are waiting for it. After all, today we are ready to accept any other point of view. And she is not spiteful, she is just different, and she should be understood. Undoubtedly, this will be significant material for future reflections and discussions, as well as for reassessment. After all, this is a look at the history of a person of European values.

It should be remembered, however, that Astrid at the time of writing the Diaries was not the guru who addressed the whole world from Frankfurt. The Western view of the appropriate actions of the state is fundamentally different from ours. The focus of concern of a democratic country and society is not ideology, not state interests, but people. In the post-Soviet space, they are not used to this. Let us recall at least how Britain withdrew its army from the continent: first, every single soldier was taken out on ships, and only then - the equipment.

Conclusion

The reader is impressed by Astrid Lindgren's sincere and witty style of storytelling. Her books, for children by their purpose, pose before society a rather difficult, but fundamental question of recognizing the needs and demands of children.

The heroes of the Swedish writer suffer from loneliness, but they stubbornly oppose public opinion and win. The works of this Master are very useful for children to read. After all, support, a reference point in life, expressed in a clear "adult" vision of children's problems, is critically important for a child. Astrid Lindgren managed to give such a view at the level of children's communication. The writer's books have become a long-awaited fresh breath of air for the morally outdated pedagogy weighed down with patriarchal features.

On November 14, 1907, in the small town of Vimmerby in the province of Småland (Kalmar county) in southern Sweden, in a family of farmers in the province of Småland, significant event- Astrid's daughter was born.

Astrid's parents, Samuel August Ericsson and Hannah Jonsson, met in the market when he was 17 and she was 14. They got married 4 years later. Astrid had an older brother, Gunnar Eriksson, and two younger sisters, Stina Puka and Ingegerd. Love and mutual understanding have always reigned in the family, parents felt affection for each other and children, and did not hesitate to show this. The writer, with great sympathy and tenderness, spoke about the special relationships in the family in her only book not addressed to children -. Astrid Lindgren's childhood was happy, filled with adventures.

Growing up in the bosom of nature, the girl absorbed all her beauty. Astrid Lindgren based her works on stories, jokes and fairy tales she heard from friends or her father. Love for books came from her friend Christine, who introduced Astrid to reading and fairy tales. The ability to write became noticeable in elementary school, where Astrid was named, although the girl herself believed that she did not deserve it.

Independent life

After graduating from high school, the sixteen-year-old began working as a journalist for the local newspaper Wimmerby Tidningen. But at the age of 18 she had to leave for Stockholm due to an unplanned pregnancy (at that time Astrid was not married). After the birth of her son Lars in December 1926, left without the support of loved ones, Astrid felt an urgent need. She was forced to give her son to foster parents in Denmark. In 1928, after completing a secretarial course, she got a job at the Royal Auto Club, where Astrid met her future husband, Stur Lindgren. Having established her life, she immediately took Lars. After becoming a housewife, Astrid Lingen devoted herself to her children and husband. Compose your amazing stories Lingren began by inventing them for her ailing daughter Karin. One evening, my daughter asked to tell a story about - the girl invented the name on the go. This is how Astrid came up with interesting fairy tale about the adventures of an uncontrollable girl named Pippi Longstocking.

Her first book was received with hostility, the education system proposed in the children's book shocked many. But she continued to write and very soon Astrid Lingren's books became popular all over the world. In 1945, Astrid Lindgren was offered the position of children's literature editor at Raben & Sjögren. She accepted the offer and worked in one position until 1970, when she officially retired. All her books were published in the same publishing house.

In 1969 the Stockholm Royal Drama Theater staged. The dramatization has become popular not only in Sweden, but all over the world. Thanks to theatrical performances, Astrid Lindgren found world renown... For the whole writing career Astrid earned more than one million crowns, she gave almost all the money to others. Almost all of Astrid Lindgren's books have been filmed.

Social activity

Few people know that Astrid was not only a talented children's writer, but also helped to remove the government and amend the legislation. At 68, she appeared in the Swedish newspaper Expresssen with satirical tale, criticizing the Swedish tax system: under the new legislation, she, as a writer-individual entrepreneur, had to pay an income tax of 102%. The tale had such a wide resonance and ultimately caused the fall of the then Social Democratic government - the party that had been ruling at that time for 44 years.

Once she gave a speech in which she warned about the severity of the consequences of assault on the entire Earth and convinced that such a child would be doubly cruel and capable of causing misfortunes all over the world. They could not help but listen to her: Sweden became the first country in the world to legally prohibit corporal punishment of children. You can imagine the writer's surprise when, after the adoption of this law, 2 boys appeared at her doorstep in Stockholm, who fled from foster families right from Germany itself! The boys assured that their rights were being violated at home and asked Astrid Lindgren for protection. Of course, the Swedish storyteller did not leave them in trouble: she helped to bring them back home, and did everything to be well treated in the future. Astrid Lindgren's contribution to the development of the entire planet is invaluable.

Vocation

For the past ten years, the Swedish press has been annually calling for Astrid Lindgren to be awarded the Nobel Prize. But children's writers have never been awarded the Nobel Prize. For some reason, children's literature does not belong to literature as such. She is on her own. However, in 1958, Astrid Lindgren was awarded the medal, which is called the Nobel Prize in Children's Literature. In 1969, the writer received the Swedish State Prize for Literature.

Lindgren also received a number of prizes for "adult" authors, in particular, the Karen Blixen medal established by the Danish Academy, the Russian medal named after, the Chilean Gabriela Mistral Prize and the Swedish Selma Lagerlöf Prize. Her achievements in the field of philanthropy were recognized by the German Bookselling Peace Prize for 1978 and the Albert Schweitzer Medal for 1989 (awarded by the American Institute for the Improvement of Animal Lives). Astrid Lindgren is a Knight of the Order of the Smile (at the award ceremony, the laureate must drink a glass of lemon juice with a smile).

last years of life

Astrid Sture's husband died in 1952. In 1961, her mother died, eight years later her father, and in 1974 her brother and several close friends died. Astrid Lindgren more than once faced the mystery of death and pondered over it a lot. If Astrid's parents were sincere adherents of Lutheranism and believed in life after death, then the writer herself called herself an agnostic. Astrid Lindgren herself died in Stockholm on January 28, 2002.

In 1991, a rose variety created in Denmark was named in honor of the writer: "Astrid Lindgren". On April 6, 2011, the Bank of Sweden announced plans to issue in 2014-2015 new series banknotes. The obverse of the 20 SEK denomination will feature a portrait of Astrid Lindgren.

The biography of Astrid Lindgren, the legendary writer (nee Ericsson), began on November 14, 1907. Thanks to her talent, the world has found the images of Carlson, a detective and a mischievous girl Pippi.

The writer herself was somewhat like her characters. According to the recollections of acquaintances, she easily won over everyone with whom she communicated. Many wrote letters to her. Astrid managed to correspond with a great number of people, despite her busyness, answering each message on her own.

Astrid Lindgren, a brief biography of which is described in the article, has worshiped exclusively the religion of childhood, children and their stories all her life.

Ericsson family

The early years of the future writer passed among the picturesque landscapes of the Näs farm, near the small town of Vimmerby (Kalmar County), in southern Sweden.

Astrid's parents were Samuel and Hannah. They met as teenagers, Hannah was barely 14 by that time. Their childhood romance lasted for another 4 years and ended in marriage. According to Astrid, the feelings of her parents were stronger than in book love stories, they lived in perfect harmony, laughed and joked a lot, never quarreled. Later, she will describe her parents' novel in one of her works.

In the Ericsson family, self-indulgence was forgiven for each of the 4 children, provided that they work with no less passion. And so it was - the children willingly helped their parents with the housework. Astrid has been working on a farm since she was 6 years old. Free time she devoted to games, some of her childhood amusements later recreated in books.

Soon began school time, and her favorite pastimes were study, music and literature.

Astrid Lindgren: biography

The author of such children's books as "Carlson Who Lives on the Roof", "Pippi Longstocking", "Mio, my Mio", "The famous detective Kalle Blomkvist", "Emil from Lönneberg", "Katy in Paris" and others. school is great. She had especially striking achievements in the field of languages ​​and literature. Her essay was even published in the newspaper. Since then, a playful nickname has been assigned to the girl: "Selma Lagerlef from Vimmerby."

The certificate also noted the talent of the graduate in needlework, making a pedagogical conclusion that she would become a wonderful wife and hostess.

However, she was in no hurry to get married and, after graduating from school, went to work for a nearby newspaper as a reporter. At the same time, cinema, jazz and short hair appeared in the life of young Astrid, which outraged the Puritan society of the Nes farm. A truly shocking event for local neighbors happened a little later: a girl who had barely reached the age of 18 told her family that she was pregnant. Biography of Astrid Lindgren (then Ericsson) gave sharp turn.

Stockholm period

Astrid did not like to dwell on the personality of the father of her child, she never spoke about it. There is a version that he was the editor of the newspaper in which the girl worked - Axel Bloomberg. True or fictional, but Astrid did not get married, preferring to leave the disgraced family and move to Stockholm. Although the parents took her side and did not want to let go of themselves, saying that they were ready to help the young mother in everything and already love the future grandson.

The new mistress, out of sympathy for Astrid, left the born child with her for a while, while his mother got to her feet. Under pressure from circumstances, Astrid was forced to leave for Sweden to work, but she rushes to her baby Lars every time she can carve out a little time.

Marriage

In a series of endless travels from one country to another in 1928, Astrid got an interview at the Royal Automobile Club and was accepted as secretary. Now her financial situation was stable, but the baby son still remained in Denmark. Samuel and Hannah suddenly came to the rescue, who had been looking for a long time how to contact their daughter. So baby Lars met his grandparents, and began to live in the same country with his mother.

Having received a temporary respite, Astrid did not even have time to recover, as a terrible danger loomed over her son. He required special treatment, for which the Ericsson simply did not have the money. For the sake of saving the child, Astrid humbled her pride and went for help to her boss named Sture Lindgren, and he did not refuse. And Astrid instead immortalized his name.

The biography of Astrid Lindgren was replenished with a new event: she became the wife of Sture. After marriage, she left the service and plunged headlong into family chores, as predicted to her in the pedagogical conclusion. Sture officially formalized paternity for Lars, and Astrid after a while gave birth to a daughter, Karen.

Peppy heals Karen

In 1941, Astrid moved with her husband and children to a new apartment, and Karen suddenly fell ill with pneumonia. The therapy did not give a positive result. Astrid sat with her daughter all night long and, out of despair, began to tell her stories. Karen suddenly became interested and even named the heroine Pippi Langstrump, which in Russian will be called Pippi Longstocking. Astrid easily complemented the image and introduced several new characters - friends for Pippi. Karen ate, took pills, and her cheeks turned pink, and Astrid Lindgren's biography once again took a sharp turn. Astrid was inventing more and more more stories about Peppy, and the unusual remedy has borne fruit. Karen began to recover, and her mother, who became akin to the fidget Peppy, began to transfer her stories to paper.

Copies of the completed manuscript found themselves on the desks of the editors. All, as one, were horrified by the lack of manners of the main character and hastened to refuse the author. Astrid didn't break it. She continued to create and with her work "Brit Marie pours out her soul" won the second prize at the famous publishing house and the right to publish the story at the competition.

The first part of the Pippi trilogy appeared to the world later, in 1945. This event was the triumphant entry of Astrid Lindgren (biography, the author's books are described in the article) into literature for children.

In the prime of the creative path

Since the first publication, the books have been published with enviable consistency to the delight of fans. 10 years after the release of "Pippi ...", in 1955, the first book of the Carlson trilogy appears on book shelves. Astrid was ready to swear on the tale of Pippi that she personally knew a funny little man with a propeller. Karen recalls that the story of Carlson grew out of a little story, in which the flying Mr. Schwarb met the boy to brighten up the gray days of a serious illness.

In 1957, Astrid Lindgren won the Literary Achievement Award. She is the first of the authors of children's books.

Life after creativity

By the 1980s, Astrid had completed her writing career, but did not retire. Her son Lars said that not only in her youth, her mother preferred noisy games with a crowd of babies to decorous conversations on a bench in the company of other parents, but she retained her habits even in old age. One day, puzzled onlookers found Astrid in a tree, and she calmly noticed that there was no official ban on this kind of leisure for the elderly.

Charity

But beyond entertainment, Astrid had a lot to worry about. All her funds, accumulated over the years of creative activity, were spent on the fight against injustice and the connivance of the government. Corresponding with fans, she found out who needed help.

Astrid sponsored the opening of a specialized center for children with disabilities... With its submission in 1988, the "Lindgren Law" was adopted, which protects animals, in Europe, a law was passed on the protection of minors.

The writer's charitable work could not remain without a response from society. Astrid reacted with kind irony to all the rewards of her merits. For example, already suffering from impairment of hearing and sight, she, studying the monument erected in her honor with her hands, at the end summed it up: "Looks like". When the small planet was given its name, Astrid jokingly declared that she could now be called an Asteroid. Compatriots recognized their favorite as the Person of the Year almost before her death, and she advised them to think another time whom to choose for this role, so that no one would decide that everyone in Sweden is old, deaf and blind.

Astrid Lindgren left this world at the age of 94, in 2002, on January 28. Long life she finished in an empty apartment, having managed to bury not only Sture, but also Lars.

The writer was posthumously nominated for the Nobel Prize.

Life after Life

For achievements in the professional field, the name of Astrid Lindgren, whose biography is described in the article, is named the prize of her native publishing house. Her daughter continues to develop her mother's social ideas.

Even after her death, the writer presents her magical world - there is a Junibacken museum in Stockholm, where, among other things, you can look into Carlson's house while he flies away to play pranks.

A huge number of children around the world continue to discover wonderful world Astrid Lindgren. short biography for children it will be as interesting as for adult admirers of her talent. Despite the difference in tastes, everyone in her books finds a character for themselves. So, for example, in Russia, Carlson is the most popular, and in Sweden he is not half as popular as Pippi.

Astrid Lindgren's biography for children and adults contains many interesting facts. For example, once the creator of both of these heroes was asked what it takes to make the reader like the book. Astrid replied that she did not have any special recipes, the book for children should simply be good. She just wanted the children to laugh and have fun.

Astrid Lindgren, a biography whose books will be of interest to her fans for many years to come, left behind a rich legacy: 52 works, many of them were filmed.

The works of Astrid Lindgren are known to every reader in our country since childhood. First of all - a book about "Little Boy and Carlson". In addition to the story, translated into Russian by L. Lungina, the Swedish writer has created a number of wonderful children's works.

Astrid Lindgren: A Brief Biography

The writer was born in 1907. Her parents had nothing to do with art or literature. They were peasants. The future writer became the second child in the family. Later, she called her childhood happy. The writer claimed that it was early years held in an atmosphere of love and understanding, served as a source for literary creativity. Astrid Lindgren's works are imbued with kindness and wisdom.

Creative way

What works did Astrid Lindgren write? To this question in our country, each reader will name the aforementioned book about the adventures of the Kid and Carlson or "Pippi Longstocking". Most of not so well known outside the homeland. Few people in Russia also know how many works Astrid Lindgren wrote.

Pippi Longstocking was created in 1945. By the way, during the war years, Lindgren wrote several kind and instructive tales... And in 1945, the writer was offered the position of editor in a children's publishing house. Here she worked until the early seventies. At the same time, she combined her work with literary creativity. The charming character who loves jam the most was created by the writer in 1955. Two years later, Astrid Lindgren's work was translated into Russian.

Theatrical performances and film adaptations

The works of Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (this is how it sounds full name writers) have inspired filmmakers many times, and not only in Sweden. In 1969 the premiere of the play "Carlson" took place at the Stockholm theater. Since then, performances based on the works of Astrid Lindgren, the list of which is presented below, have been going on in cities in Europe and the United States. In Sweden, the writer is known primarily for films and television series based on her books.

List of works for children

Astrid Lindgren wrote books, the titles of which, translated into Russian, sound as follows:

• « Peppy settles at the Chicken Villa.
• "The famous detective Kalle Blumkvist".
• "We are all from Bullerby."
• "Brothers Lionheart".
• "Katy in America".
• "Mirabel".
• “About Lotta from Gorlastaya Street”.

This is not a complete list. In total, the Swedish writer has created more than thirty works for young readers... Let's talk about some of them.

Book "Brothers Lionheart"

The book is about two brave brothers, with whom so many unusual things happened that they can neither say in a fairy tale nor describe with a pen. Yunathan and Karl, thirteen and nine years old, are ordinary boys, no different from their peers. But still there is something unique in them, however, as in all Lindgren's characters.

Little Karl is seriously ill, everyone around is sure that Miss Leyon will soon lose her son. She lost. Only not Karl, but a healthy, kind, beloved Yunathan, who gave so much hope. Karl also died soon after. What is it like for a poor mother to lose both sons?

In life, this would be the end of the story. But in the fairy tale by Astrid Lindgren, everything is not so simple. The reader continues to watch Yunathan and Karl. Where? In Nangiyal. Few have heard of this country. However, small Swedish children know everything about it, and are not at all afraid to get there. In Nangiyala, brothers begin a new life full of fun and joy. However, evil does not sleep even in fabulous country... Gloomy events interrupt the peaceful existence of all the inhabitants of Nangiyala.

"Super Detective Kalle Blomkvist"

Astrid Lindgren in this book tells how a little boy named Kalle Blomkvist from a little-known Swedish town dreams of becoming a famous detective. Like, for example, Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. Together with his friends, he constantly gets into various troubles. Little detectives manage to solve any difficult questions. After all, Kalle knows all the spy tricks, and his loyal and devoted friends invariably with him.

"Madiken"

This is a work by Astrid Lindgren about a naughty girl who is impossible not to love. The book consists of two parts:

1. "Madiken".
2. "Madiken and Pims from Junibakken".

Each part contains nine to ten stories. From the story, the reader learns not only about the girl herself and her family, but also plunge into the atmosphere of the Swedish province, gets acquainted with the traditions and customs of this country.

"Katy in Paris"

The book is intended for children of middle and senior school age. Despite the fact that in the last part of the trilogy about Katya main character she gets married and has a child, girls read the story with pleasure twelve-thirteen years old. All events are described by the author with childlike spontaneity and by no means mature look on what is happening.

There is a lot of informative material in this work of Astrid Lindgren. Young readers will learn about the sights of Paris, about the history of this city. Together with the heroes, they travel by car from Sweden through Denmark and Germany to France.

"Little Nils Carlson"

The name of this hero evokes associations with the name of a well-known character. However, Nils Karlson does not live on the roof, but in the basement. The writer told in this book the story of little boy Bertile, whose parents work too hard. He sees them only in the morning and evening.

One day a child saw under his bed a tiny man who lived in a rat's hole. This was Nils Carlson. He knows how to talk, and he can also make Bertil as small as himself, and then turn him back into an ordinary boy. And this is where amazing adventures begin.

Bertil goes down to the rat hole to visit his new friend. They have fun all day, cleaning the house and doing other useful things. Even eating food turned into exciting game... Now the boy Bertil is not at all bored, just like the Kid after meeting Carlson.

"Mirabel"

Astrid Lindgren wrote not only works of large forms. There are also small fairy tales in her work. "Mirabelle" refers to those. This piece is a kind, cute fairy tale for girls. According to readers, this is an incredibly instructive and kind book.

The story is told in the first person - from the person of a girl who has an unusual doll named Mirabelle. This is a dynamic tale about the friendship between a child and a doll, about how they had fun.

"We are all from Bullerby"

This work is called the kindest book by Astrid Lindgren. Bullerby is a small Swedish village. There are only three houses here. It was in such a small settlement that the famous writer grew up, the creator of one of the most popular characters in the USSR. Her early memories formed the basis of this book. The story is told from the perspective of a girl who has two brothers. Her peers live in another house. Ulle, a small resident of the third house, the only child in the family. He has no brother or sister. Fortunately, there are loyal friends.

"Madiken"

In this book, Astrid Lindgren tells the story of Madiken, a young resident of a small village. Events take place at the beginning of the last century. She lives with her parents, sister Lizabeth, a servant and a dog named Sassi. The prototypes of some of the characters from A. Lindgren's stories are taken from life. Part of this book autobiographical.

Madiken is friends with the neighbor boy Abbe, who is already fifteen years old, and dreams of marrying him. Abbe's family is very poor, he needs to work and has no time to entertain little Madiken. The main character is only eight. The author draws the readers' attention to Madiken's relationship with people living below the poverty line. An eight-year-old girl asks the question, "Is poverty helpless?" ...

"Pippi Longstocking"

The heroine of this work is well known to readers thanks to the Soviet film adaptation. Peppy is the happiest child in the world. She has her own live horse and a real monkey. The girl does not go to school, there are no prohibitions in her world. Peppy is very rich - she has a whole suitcase of money. She is also very generous - she constantly gives gifts to everyone. Children are jealous of Peppy's life. And adults understand how deeply unhappy the child is, who so early in this life was left all alone, without dad and mom.

Astrid Lindgren was a member of the Social Democratic Party all her life. She was characterized by a desire for equality, a caring attitude towards others. For many years she was engaged in social activities. In her speeches, Lindgren advocated pacifistic beliefs, more than once opposed violent methods in raising children. The writer passed away in 2002.