In the small Swedish town of Vimmerby you can see an unusual statue of the town’s most famous citizen, Astrid Lindgren (1907 – 2002). She is the world’s 18th most translated author, famed for creating Pippi Longstocking, the Tomten, the Brothers Lionheart, Emil of Lonneberga, and other fabulous characters. She wrote more than thirty books.
The statue, placed in the town’s main square, depicts the hard-working author seated at her desk, typewriter in front of her. On the other side of the desk is an empty seat, so visitors can sit down and feel they are having a chat with Ingrid. What I find really fascinating is that the empty seat is heated, so the snow of a Swedish winter will melt off it, leaving it always dry and comfortable.
It was unveiled in 2007 and designed by Marie-Louise Ekman. It was done in patinated bronze, and is now one of the most photographed things in Vimmerby.
Astrid Lindgren is much loved and celebrated in Vimmerby today, but that was not always the case. She was a rebel in her teens, the first girl in town to cut her hair short. Then she got pregnant by the father of one of her school friends, and left town to have her baby in Denmark. Locals were horrified! (You might like to watch the movie Becoming Astrid about her early life.) Today there are writing awards in her name, she features on a Swedish bank-note and her funeral was attended by Swedish royalty. Her birthplace, not far from the statue, is an excellent museum.
What would you say to Astrid? Tell me by leaving a comment here.
Susannah Fullerton: The Life and Writings of Astrid Lindgren
Susannah Fullerton: Writers On The Money
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Travels
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Films
Susannah Fullerton Video Talk: Literary Scandinavia – Susannah’s Top Ten Places to Visit
Susannah Fullerton Video Talk: Pippi Longstocking – Astrid Lindgren
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Merete Colding Smith
Dear Susannah,
I loved your Astrid Lindgren blog, she is one of my favourite authors (we’re travelling in Europe, so only just caught up with your July newsletter). I didn’t know about the statue in Vimmerby, I must get there to see it for myself.
But I must correct a gremlin: Astrid Lindgren wrote the Emil of Lönneberga books, most certainly not Emil and the Detectives, which is by the German author Erich Kästner. In fact, Emil and the Detectives was so popular in Germany that Astrid Lindgren’s Emil was published under the title “Michel aus Lönneberga” so as not to confuse the German public with two Emil’s.
look forward to your August blog.
Merete Colding Smith
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks Merete, you are quite right. I meant to say Bill Bergson who is her detective character and got confused with another of her characters Emil of Lonneberga. That’s interesting that they gave the character another name in Germany so it didn’t confuse people. I will correct my post.
Miland Joshi
I suppose I would say, “I’m glad it worked out for you!”
Susannah Fullerton
I loved seeing this statue and find it a lovely tribute to a fine writer.