Trollkarlens hatt by Tove Jansson

April 20th, 2008

Trollkarlens hatt
Tove Jansson
164 p.

AWE Gebers, 1956.

Back cover blurb:

Den här berättelsen börjar med trolldom en tidig vårmorgon och slutar en varm augustinatt som aldrig kommer glömmas i mumindalen. Däremellan ligger mumintrollets långa sommar, full av solsken och åskväder. Den kunde ha varit som en vanlig sommar, med upptäckter av nya öar, med långrevsfiske i duggregn och lyckliga bad i bränningarna och hemlighetsfulla nattvandringar - men så hittade muminfamiljen trollkarlens hatt. Och efter det var ingenting som vanligt längre. Farlighet och spänning hade kommit in i dalen och tassade hotfullt kring deras hus, varje dag hände otroliga och upprörande saker. De hade med andra ord aldrig haft så roligt förr. Det här är historien om små och stora kryp och om glada händelser och hemska händelser som alltid måste vara hopblandade för att ens sommar ska bli riktig och underbar.

Looking through the first few pages of this book, I realised that this is from the second print run, which made me feel a little uncomfortable - maybe I shouldn’t have carried it around as I did! I carried this book around for a near week, which, for such a short volume, is maybe a bit ridiculous. However, it was interesting to see how people reacted to it. People often went “Moomin!” in an appreciating way, but others went “..Moomin!” which made me think that maybe they thought it was ridiculous. If they did, I don’t care. Moomin might be considered a childrens’ book, but it is so much greater than a childrens’ book. (Earlier today I actually went to see a couple of short Moomin films at a cinema. The ticket girl looked a little strangely at me when I said I wanted to buy a ticket.)

It’s such a wondrous story. This novel has a few things I missed from Farlig Midsommar, most notably Mårran (The Groke in English). I love the concept of Mårran - something that’s evil because she’s unloved, but you can’t love her, because then she only gets cross. It is fantastic, and I don’t think I’ve ever been  as scared of any character as I was Mårran. At one place Jansson writes: “I det frusna gräset satt Mårran och glodde på dem” (132, roughly translated to “In the frozen grass sat the Groke and stared at them”). The choice of words chills my blood. I never thought I’d be as scared of someone who “glor”. (I realise this sounds really strange, but nevermind!) She is a truly extraordinary character.

And all the other characters! Oh, how I love them! Had I the opportunity, I would definitely marry Snusmumriken (who I believe is called Snufkin in English). He wouldn’t be a very good husband, I believe, but no one is perfect. I mean, at least he wears a pretty hat!

All in all, it was a very good book. I don’t really think I’ve said much about the actual content of the book, but, well, it’s obvious that I’ll like it - it’s Moomin. Whoever doesn’t like Moomin is mentally unwell.

Entry Filed under: Children, Fantasy, Fiction, Swedish