Moomin Site

ABOUT

What is Moomin?

Though often confused for just the name of a character, the popularly known “moomin” actually refers to The Moomins. The central characters in a series of books, comics, and later a tv show, originally published in Swedish in Finland, by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson. They are a family of trolls who embark on many adventures through moominvalley with their various friends, with the central character often being the face of "moomin", Moomintroll. These lovable characters have become a beloved part of children's literature and culture, known for its whimsical storytelling and deep themes.

ORIGINS

Where did Moomin come from?

The first two books about the Moomins (The Moomins and the Great Flood and Comet in Moominland) were published in 1945 and 1946 respectively, and deal with natural disasters; they were influenced by the upheavals of war and Jansson's depression during the war years. both were published in swedish. The reception of the first two Moomin books was lukewarm at first, however the second book did received more attention than its predecessor and is often seen as first novel in the series as it introduces many of the main characters, like Snufkin and the Snorkmaiden, and is set in Moominvalley. But even them sales were still poor.

The third book, Finn Family Moomintroll, which was the first Moomin book translated into English, became the first international bestseller! The Moomins also appeared in the form of comic strips. Their first appearance was in 1947 in the children's section of the Ny Tid newspaper,[16] and they were introduced nternationally to English readers in 1954 in the popular London newspaper The Evening News

CREATOR

Who made Moomin?

Tove Marika Jansson

Tove Marika Jansson (August 1914 – 27 June 2001) was a Finland-Swedish author, novelist and comic strip author. She was also a painter, illustrator, and creator of moomin. She had an upbringing full of creativity, being Brought up by artistic parents and styding art from 1930 to 1938 in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Paris. As a child Tove spent summers with her relatives in the Stockholm archipelago. It was from the summer house in Blidö and the area surrounding it that Tove drew her inspiration for Moominvalley and Moominhouse with its terrace and slender tower.