The Moomins and the Great Flood
2005 (Originally published in 1945)
”At last they came to a small valley that was more beautiful than any they had seen that day. And there, in the midst of the meadow, stood a house that almost looked like a tall stove, very elegant and painted blue.”
The Moomins and the Great Flood
Tove Jansson
And so, for the very first time, we meet the young Moomin, Moominmamma and Sniff as they search through forest and flood for long lost Moominpappa, last seen wandering with the Hattifatteners.
Along the way, in a series of delightful adventures, they encounter Hemulens, stranded kittens and the blue-haired Tulippa. The Moomins and the Great Flood was the original Moomin story, published in Swedish in Finland in 1945.
A rediscovered gem, it offers an extraordinary glimpse into Tove Jansson’s unique vision, featuring beautiful sepia watercolours as well as the pen and ink drawings that would become her trademark.
In this video, Boel Westin, Tove Jansson’s biographer, and professor emeritus, sheds light on some of the lessons of the book, like the importance of a proper purse. Narration by Sophia Jansson, Tove Jansson’s niece and Chairperson of the Board at Moomin Characters.
The Moomins and the Great Flood on the publisher Sort of Books’ website.
The book was first published in Swedish as Småtrollen och den stora översvämningen in 1945 and was translated into English in 2005.