The Re-Read: Linda Bondestam on The Moomins by Tove Jansson
September 26 at 5:30pm
Join us as we explore the influential books and writers who defined genres and captivated readers for decades. Each session of The Re-Read features a contemporary writer discussing a favourite book or author, to offer their insight as an author and share their joy as a reader. One of the best Finnish artists of all time and also the most widely read Finnish author abroad, Tove Jansson is mostly remembered as the creator of the Moomins. In all, nine books were released in the Tales of Moomin Valley series, together with four picture books and a comic strip being released between 1954 and 1975. Created to escape the terror of the second world war, the books’ endurance is due, in part, to how they resonate strongly with current conflicts, the plight of refugees, and possess an uncanny presentiment of today’s environmental crisis. The Moomins are famous for their gentleness, generosity and good humour, but lurking below the surface of the stories, for all the sunshine and picnics, is an unsettling darkness that Jansson describes as: “Daydreams, monsters and all the horrible symbols of the subconscious that stimulate me. . . I wonder if the nursery and the chamber of horrors are as far apart as people think.” Join contemporary children’s Finnish author and illustrator, Linda Bondestam for a fascinating re-read of these books and characters.
Ticket Info:
Date & Time: September 26 at 5:30pm ET
Where: Lakeside Terrace at Harbourfront Centre
Duration: 60 minutes
Ticket prices: $17 – Regular; $12 – Youth; or Get a TIFA Pass
This event appears as part of Nordic Bridges 2022. Presented with support from FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange.
