Moominsummer Madness

Last updated
Moominsummer Madness
Farlig-midsommar.jpg
First edition (Swedish)
Author Tove Jansson
Original titleFarlig midsommar
TranslatorThomas Warburton
Country Finland
Language Swedish
Series Moomins
Genre Children's novel
Publication date
1954
Published in English
1955
ISBN 0140305017 (English)
Preceded by The Exploits of Moominpappa  
Followed by Moominland Midwinter  

Moominsummer Madness (Swedish title Farlig midsommar, or "Dangerous Midsummer") is the fifth in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1954.

Contents

The major theme of the novel is theatre, described as an infuriating but ultimately rewarding process. [1]

The novel forms the basis of episodes 28–30 in the 1990 TV series. Part of the novel's plot has also served as inspiration for the 2024 video game Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley . [2] [3]

Plot summary

A nearby volcano causes a massive wave to flood Moominvalley. While escaping the flood, the Moomin family and their friends find a building floating past, and take up residence there. They believe it is a deserted house until they realise someone else lives there, Emma, who explains that it is not a house but a theatre. The moomins start to understand about the scenery, props, and costumes they have found.

The theatre drifts aground, and Moomintroll and the Snorkmaiden decide to go and sleep in a tree. When they wake next morning, the theatre has floated away again and they are alone. Meanwhile, Little My accidentally falls overboard, and by some strange coincidence is rescued by Moomintroll's adventurous friend Snufkin who is setting off to seek revenge on a grumpy Park Keeper. Snufkin tears down all the "Do not walk on the grass" notices, fills the lawns with electric Hattifatteners and sets free twenty-four small woodies who immediately adopt him as their father. The coincidences continue as Moonmintroll and the Snorkmaiden meet Emma's deceased husband's niece, the Fillyjonk, and all three get arrested burning the signs that Snufkin tore up.

Meanwhile, in the theatre, Emma helps Moominpappa write a play, and the family decide to stage it. The woodies find a playbill for the play and cajole Snufkin into taking them to the theatre. The Hemulen, who has arrested Fillyjonk, Moomintroll, and the Snork Maiden, also finds a playbill and leaves his cousin to guard the prisoners while he heads off to see the play. The cousin is persuaded of their innocence and lets them out to go to the play too. Everyone is reunited and ends up on stage, the play itself collapsing into a big reunion party. When the floods recede, everyone goes home.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tove Jansson</span> Finnish author, illustrator (1914–2001)

Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. Brought up by artistic parents, Jansson studied art from 1930 to 1938 in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Paris. She held her first solo art exhibition in 1943. Over the same period, she penned short stories and articles for publication, and subsequently drew illustrations for book covers, advertisements, and postcards. She continued her work as an artist and writer for the rest of her life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snufkin</span> Moomin character

Snufkin is a character in the Moomin series of books written by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson, appearing in six of the nine books; his first appearance is in the second book, Comet in Moominland. He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll, and lives a nomadic lifestyle, only staying in Moominvalley in the spring and summer, but leaving for warmer climates down south every winter. He is the son of the elder Mymble and the Joxter, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and Little My.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little My</span> Fictional character

Little My is a character in the Moomin series of books by Tove Jansson. The character first appeared in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa (1950). She is a small, determined and fiercely independent Mymble. Little My is brash, aggressive, mischievous and disrespectful, but can also be a good friend when she wants to. She is the Mymble's daughter's younger sister. She was eventually adopted by the Moomin family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moomin World</span> Theme park in Finland

Moomin World is a theme park based on the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. It was designed by Dennis Livson, and is located on the island of Kailo next to the old town of Naantali, in Southwest Finland.

<i>Comet in Moominland</i> 1946 childrens book by Tove Jansson

Comet in Moominland is the second in Finnish author Tove Jansson's series of Moomin books. Published in 1946, it marks the first appearance of several main characters, such as Snufkin and the Snork Maiden.

<i>Finn Family Moomintroll</i> 1948 childrens book by Tove Jansson

Finn Family Moomintroll is the third in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in Swedish in 1948 and translated to English in 1950. It owes its title in translation to the fact that it was the first Moomin book to be published in English, and was actually marketed as the first in the series until the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Groke</span> Fictional character from stories by Tove Jansson

The Groke is a fictional character in the Moomin stories created by Tove Jansson. She appears as a ghost-like, hill-shaped body with two cold staring eyes and a wide row of white shiny teeth. In the book Who Will Comfort Toffle?, it is mentioned that she has a tail, but it has never been seen. Wherever she stands, the ground below her freezes and plants and grass die. She leaves a trace of ice and snow when she walks the ground. Anything that she touches will freeze. On one occasion, she froze a campfire by sitting down on it. She seeks friendship and warmth, but she is declined by everyone and everything, leaving her in her cold cavern on top of the Lonely Mountains.

<i>The Moomins and the Great Flood</i> 1945 childrens book by Tove Jansson

The Moomins and the Great Flood is a book written by Finnish author Tove Jansson in 1945, during the last months of World War II. It was the first book to star the Moomins, but is often seen as a prelude to the main Moomin books, as most of the main characters are introduced in the next book.

<i>The Exploits of Moominpappa</i> 1950 childrens book by Tove Jansson

The Exploits of Moominpappa, first published in 1950 and then considerably revised in 1968 under the title Moominpappa's Memoirs, is the fourth book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. The story found in this book is mentioned in the previous Moomin books, as Moominpappa writes his memoirs in those stories. Unlike Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll, both versions of the novel were translated into English. Exploits of Moominpappa forms the basis of episodes 62, 63 and 64 in the 1990 TV series.

<i>Tales from Moominvalley</i> 1962 childrens book by Tove Jansson

Tales from Moominvalley is the seventh book in the Moomins series by Finnish author Tove Jansson. Unlike all the other books, which were novels, it is a collection of short stories, the longest book in the series. It was first published in 1962. The book forms the basis of episodes 9, 10, 13, 24, and 36 of the 1990 series.

<i>Moominpappa at Sea</i> 1965 childrens book by Tove Jansson

Moominpappa at Sea is the eighth book in the Moomin books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. First published in 1965, the novel is set contemporaneously with Moominvalley in November (1970), and is the final installment in the series where the titular Moomin family are present within the narrative.

<i>Moominvalley in November</i> 1970 childrens book by Tove Jansson

Moominvalley in November is the ninth and final book in the Moomin series by Finnish author Tove Jansson, and was first published in her native Swedish in 1970, and in English in 1971. Set contemporaneously with her previous novel Moominpappa at Sea (1965), it is the only installment in the series where the titular Moomin family are actually absent. Instead it focuses on a set of other characters, including Snufkin, who come to live at Moominhouse during the onset of winter whilst its inhabitants are away, and the various interactions which they have with each other.

<i>Moomins</i> Fictional characters created by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson

The Moomins are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, picture books, and a comic strip by Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of white, round fairy-tale characters with large snouts that make them resemble the hippopotamus. However, despite this resemblance, the Moomin family are trolls. The family live in their house in Moominvalley.

<i>Moomins on the Riviera</i> 2014 Finnish-French animated family comedy film directed by Xavier Picard

Moomins on the Riviera is a 2014 Finnish-French animated family comedy film directed by Xavier Picard and produced by Hanna Hemilä, who is also co-director. The film is based on Moomin comic strips by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson.

<i>Moomin</i> (1990 TV series) Japanese-Finnish-Dutch anime television series

Moomin is a Dutch-Japanese-Finnish anime television series produced by Telecable Benelux B.V. and animated by Telescreen Japan. Based on the Moomin novels and comic strips by the Finnish illustrator and author Tove Jansson and her brother Lars Jansson, it was the third anime adaptation of the property and the first to receive distribution in different countries worldwide. Moomin first aired on TV Tokyo from April 12, 1990, to October 3, 1991. The series had also been dubbed into English and aired on CBBC in United Kingdom during the same year.

Metsä is a Nordic-themed entertainment complex in Hannō, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The complex consists of Metsä Village, entertainment and leisure area which opened in November 2018, and Moominvalley Park, which opened in 2019. The park was initially planned to start operation in 2015 to mark the 100th birthday of Tove Jansson. On June 30, 2015, it was announced that the opening would be delayed until 2017 at the earliest. On December 6, 2016, the opening date was further delayed to spring 2019.

Moominvalley is a British Finnish animated family drama television series. An adaptation of the Moomin books and comics by writer-illustrator Tove Jansson and her brother Lars Jansson, it is created using new techniques in 3D CGI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sniff (Moomin character)</span> Childrens book character

Sniff is a character in the Moomin stories created by Tove Jansson. His debut is in the first Moomin-book The Moomins and the Great Flood. In addition to books, he is also a prominent character in the Moomin comics and animations.

<i>Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley</i> 2024 video game

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a 2024 video game based on the Moomins franchise. The player controls the wanderer Snufkin as he restores a dilapidated Moominvalley and searches for his disappeared friend Moomintroll.

References

  1. Westin, Boel (2014). Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words. Sort of Books. pp. 264–265. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. "Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley will be released on PC and Nintendo Switch on 7 March 2024". Rights & Brands. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  3. Bardhan, Ashley (8 March 2024). "All Park Keepers Are Bastards". Vulture . Retrieved 28 March 2024.