 Karlsson with Svante "Lillebror" (little brother) Svanteson on a Russian stamp (1992). | |
| |
| Author | Astrid Lindgren |
|---|---|
| Original title | Karlsson på taket |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
Karlsson-on-the-Roof (Swedish: Karlsson på taket) is a character who figures in a series of children's books by the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Lindgren may have borrowed the idea for the series from a similar story about Mr. O'Malley in the comic strip "Barnaby" (1942) by Crockett Johnson.[1]
Plot
Karlsson is a very short, plump and overconfident man who lives in a small house hidden behind a chimney on the roof of "a very ordinary apartment building on a very ordinary street" in Vasastan, Stockholm. When Karlsson pushes a button on his stomach, it starts a clever little engine with a propeller on his back, allowing him to fly.
In his own opinion, Karlsson is the best at everything. He befriends Svante Svantesson, a seven-year-old boy and youngest member of the Svantesson family, who is often referred to as "Little Brother", Swedish: Lillebror.
Karlsson is quite mischievous and likes to make fun and prank others. He often gets Lillebror into trouble, as Karlsson usually disappears just before Lillebror's family arrives leaving him to deal with consequences of Karlsson’s actions.
At first, parents, siblings and friends of Lillebror don't believe that Karlsson is real and consider him being an imaginary friend but after they meet him in person they begin to like the little flying man.
Another character to encounter Karlsson is Fröken Bock (Miss Hildur Bock), a mean nanny (presumably in her late 40s or 50s), who undergoes an emotional transformation after meeting Karlsson.
Development
Karlsson's predecessor is Mr. Lilyvale (Swedish: Herr Liljonkvast). Mr. Lilyvale was a small, flying, friendly old man and fantasy friend of Lindgren's daughter Karin. In the evening he visited her in her room. Lindgren's daughter explained that Mr. Lilyvale could not be seen by anyone else because he flew away or hid as soon as someone entered the room. Astrid Lindgren wrote the book In the Land of Twilight about Mr. Lilyvale. At that time, Mr. Lilyvale was friendlier, less selfish, bossy or self centered. He also had no propeller.[2][3] According to Astrid Lindgren, Mr. Lilyvale later turned into Karlsson.[4]
Characters
Characters names are often changed in English-language translations.
- Karlsson - Karlsson or Karlson
- Svante - Eric, Sandy
- Lillebror, Svante's nickname - Midge, Smidge
- Bosse, lillebror's older brother - Sebastian (Bass)
- Bettan, lillebror's older sister - Barbara (Barbie)
- Krister, lillebror's classmate - Chris
- Gunilla, lillebror's classmate - Susanna
- Fille, a petty thief - Filly
- Rulle, a petty thief - Rolly
- Fröken Bock, the housemaid - Miss Black
Series and English translations
There are three Karlsson-on-the-Roof books:
- 1955: Lillebror och Karlsson på taket
- Eric and Karlsson-on-the-Roof published by Oxford University Press (1958). Character name changes: Svante - Eric
- Karlsson-on-the-Roof (ISBN 0670411779) Illustrated by Jan Pyk, published by Viking Books for Young Readers (1971)
- Karlson on the Roof Translated by Patricia Crampton, illustrated by Ilon Wikland, published by Methuen children's books, London (1975). Note to reader: "In an earlier translation the names of some of the characters appeared differently. This completely new and modern translation, while altering a few details, remains faithful to the original." Character name changes: Karlsson - Karlson, Lillebror - Midge, Svanteson - Sanderson, Svante - Sandy, Bosse - Sebastian (Bass), Bettan - Barbara (Barbie), Krister - Chris, Gunilla - Susanna, Fille - Filly, Rulle - Rolly
- Karlsson on the Roof (ISBN 0192776274) Illustrated by Mini Grey, Published by OUP Oxford (2021). Character name changes: Lillebror - Smidge
- 1962: Karlsson på taket flyger igen
- Karlsson-on-the-Run (ISBN 0670411779) Illustrated by Jan Pyk, published by Viking Books for Young Readers (1971)
- Karlsson Flies Again Translated by Patricia Crampton, illustrated by Ilon Wikland, published by Methuen children's books, London (1977). Character name changes: Karlsson - Karlson, Lillebror - Midge, Svanteson - Sanderson, Svante - Sandy, Bosse - Sebastian (Bass), Bettan - Barbara (Barbie), Krister - Chris, Gunilla - Susanna, Fille - Filly, Rulle - Rolly, fröken Bock - Miss Black
- Karlsson Flies Again (ISBN 0192776266) Translated by Tony Ross, illustrated by Mini Grey, published by OUP Oxford (2021). Character name changes: Lillebror - Smidge
- 1968: Karlsson på taket smyger igen
- Karlsson-on-the-Roof is Sneaking Around Again
- The World's Best Karlsson (ISBN 0192776355) Illustrated by Mini Grey, Published by OUP Oxford (2021)
Cultural impact and adaptations
Translated books and cartoon adaptation of the series became popular in the Soviet Union when it was released in the 1970s. The two Soviet animated films Junior and Karlson[5] (1968) and Karlson Returns[6] (1970), directed by Boris Stepantsev at Soyuzmultfilm studio are among the most celebrated and loved cartoons in Russia and other ex-Soviet countries.[7][8] Karlsson was voiced by Vasily Livanov and Malysh by Klara Rumyanova in both animated films, while Fröken Bock was voiced by Faina Ranevskaya in the second film. In 1971, the character was also adapted for the Soviet stage at the Moscow Satire Theatre, where Karlsson was portrayed by Spartak Mishulin.
A live-action version, Världens bästa Karlsson, was released in Sweden in 1974, as was an animated film in 2002.
A Ukrainian military unit during the Russian invasion of Ukraine named itself after Karlsson-on-the-Roof and took the name "Karlsson-on-the-Roof Battalion".[9]
References
- ↑ Astrid Lindgren hade förebild i USA, Dagens Nyheter, 15 januari 2012.
- ↑ "I Skymningslandet".
- ↑ "Karlsson på taket".
- ↑ Schade, Frauke (2008). Astrid Lindgren - ein neuer Blick: Kinderkultur, Illustration. ISBN 9783825810580.
- ↑ "Junior and Karlson". imdb.com. 1968.
- ↑ "Karlson Returns". imdb.com. 1970.
- ↑ Giannalberto Bendazzi (2016). Animation: A World History: Volume II: The Birth of a Style - The Three Markets at Google Books, p. 287, 77
- ↑ Sergei Kapkov (2006). Encyclopedia of Domestic Animation. — Moscow: Algorithm, p. 615—616
- ↑ Fridh Kleberg, Carl (16 October 2022). ""Karlsson på taket"-bataljon krigar för Ukraina – från luften" ["Karlsson-on-the-Roof" battalion fights for Ukraine – from the air]. SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 May 2023.
