Re: Mondo Moomin

> Jarmo,
> My recollection is that Jannson was a Swedish speaking Finn, yes? And 
> so
> the Moomin books were first published in Swedish? In Sweden? But she 
> is
> fully embraced by the Finnish speaking Finns?

Yes, you're right: the Moomin books were first published in Swedish. The 
first book was called "Smetrollen och den stora vversvdmningen", "The 
Little Trolls and the Big Flood". I do not know whether they were 
published in Finland or Sweden back then.

My favourite character is Little My, and as for specific acts, I just 
love the one where the Moomintroll wonders what Christmas is actually 
all about! You find it in "Moominland Midwinter".

The Moomin characters are very popular here. Finland Post has also 
issued several Moomin stamps since the 1990s.

> I've always seen the big humor-less Hemulins as a satire on the 
> Germans--
> an antipathy coming out of Finland's participation in the WWII Axis?

It is quite possible! In the 1930s the political journal "Garm" 
published her drawings clearly protesting against the Nazi regime.

> She also wrote an adult novel about a grim old folks home in the US. 
> Set in
> Florida, I think.

I have not read this novel but it must be "Solstaden", "Sun City".

Jarmo