topics: |  fiction | children | sweden

Pippi Longstocking is a swedish girl with red hair and two red pigtails that stick right out. her father, the captain of the ship Hoptoad, is often out at sea, and pippi lives alone in a small swedish town, in a house called the Villa Villekula. she is magically strong and can easily lift up horses and big fat men and carry them on her shoulders. she also has a monkey called mr. nilsson and a horse who has no name. the series of books are about the many adventures she has with her friends and neighbours, Annika and Tommy.

she doesn't go to school and is weak in spelling (Seasick -> "seesick"), and even in speech (medicine -> "meducine", municipal -> "minicipal").

in this story, her father, who has become a king in a remote south pacific island, comes back and takes Pippi (and her two friends) to his island kingdom. there Pippi turns out to be a terrific swimmer who can pick u a shark and throw him away. she is also adroit in throwing coconuts to scare off sharks pursuing swimmers. later they encounter some robbers who are disposed of in typical Pippi fashion.

you can see the power of Astrid Langren's writing in the tall tales that Pippi seems to be forever spinning.

Excerpts

[the fine gentleman who is under the impression that he can buy Villa
Villekulla and turn the children out:] "Children are the worst thing I know."
    [Pippi]: I think so too. All children should be shot. 9

[Pippi's one-upmanship of such foul adult characters are part of her strong
appeal.  She slyly insults him in a puzzle game that he starts, and
eventually, after he threatens to beat up Annika, she throws him into the
air a few times and then deposits him in his car. ]  

[Pippi, about her grandmother]: If she was walking on the street and a brick
    happened to fall on her head, she'd start to scream and make such a fuss
    you'd think something terrible had happened.  16

Pippi: Just think that I have discovered it ...a "brand new word"
     A wonderful word. One of the best I've ever heard. 
Annika: Say it then. 
    "Spink," said Pippi triumphantly.
    "Spink," repeated Tommy.  "What does that mean?"
    "If only I knew!" said Pippi.  "The only thing I know is that it doesn't
mean vacuum cleaner." p.22

Tommy:  Who really decided in the beginning what all the words should mean? 
Pippi:  Probably a bunch of old professors. 22

Miss Rosenbloom was a rich old lady who lived in the little town.  She took
good care of her money, but once every term she came to the school and
distributed gifts to the children. [among the handouts: pink woollen
underwear] 38. 

    The population of Kurrekurredutt was one hundred and twenty-six people.  
    "That is approximately the right number of subjects to have," said King
Efraim. "More are hard to keep track of." 61

Captain Longstocking read the inscription in a trembling voice.  Then he blew
his nose with gusto. 62

pluttification: P's word for multiplication, which schoolkids are incessantly
getting homeworks in. 

[pippi spins many a long tale]
[when school gate slams shut for the summer vacation], all the children slowy
head home, singing sad songs, and they can't keep themselves from
sobbing... 70