Han River Author's 'Source of Inspiration' Children's Literature Writer 'Lindgren' [News Figures]

Authored works including Pippi the Malggallyangi and Adventures of the Lion King Brothers
Sweden establishes Lindgren Award and selects new currency figure

On the 6th (local time), at a press conference commemorating the Nobel Prize in Literature held at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, writer Han Kang (54) announced her plans for the Nobel week, stating, "I plan to visit Astrid Lindgren's apartment." The Nobel week continues for eight days from the 5th to the 12th.

Astrid Lindgren (1907?2002) is a representative Swedish children's literature author. She left behind more than 100 works, including "Pippi Longstocking," "Ronia, the Robber's Daughter," and "Mio, My Son." In 1958, she received the Hans Christian Andersen Award, known as the "Nobel Prize of children's books." She was awarded various honors, including the Swedish Academy Gold Medal in 1971. Especially, "Pippi Longstocking" was the work that propelled Lindgren to global fame, being adapted into TV series and animations that gained worldwide popularity.

Swedish 20 Krona banknote [Photo by Sveriges Riksbank]

Another representative work, "The Brothers Lionheart," is a book that Han Kang said she "liked very much as a child." Han Kang stated in a phone interview with the Nobel Committee right after the Nobel Prize announcement in October, "I cannot say that Lindgren was the only author who inspired my childhood, but I was able to connect that book with my questions about humans, life, and death."

"The Brothers Lionheart," a full-length fairy tale published by Lindgren in 1973, is considered a classic of fantasy children's literature. It deals with the adventures of two brothers, the boy Karl and the Lion King Jonathan, in the world after death. However, it is known to have received much criticism at the time for dealing with the subject of joint suicide. Han Kang mentioned the connection between this book, the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, and her novel "The Boy is Coming" at a literary event held in Norway in 2017.

Lindgren's apartment is located at 46 Dalagatan in Stockholm. Lindgren lived here for over 60 years from 1941 until her death in 2002, writing numerous works. It was opened to the public in November 2015 and is preserved in the same condition as when she lived there. As of the 9th, online visit reservations are fully booked until mid-January next year, indicating its high popularity.

Author Han Kang answering questions from the press at the Nobel Museum in Sweden [Photo by Yonhap News]

After Lindgren passed away in 2002, the Swedish government established the "Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award." It is currently regarded as one of the most prestigious children's literature awards in the world, alongside the Andersen Award. The Swedish government honors children's and youth literature authors annually with this award. The prize money is 5 million kronor (approximately 650 million KRW), a substantial amount. Baek Heena (53), the author of the picture book "Cloud Bread," became the first Korean author to receive the award in 2020, attracting attention.

UNESCO designated Lindgren's manuscripts and related materials as a UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2005. Additionally, the Swedish government selected her as the figure on the newly issued 20-krona banknote starting in October 2015. The front of the banknote features Lindgren's image alongside her fairy tale character Pippi, highlighting her identity as a fairy tale author. The back depicts Sm?land, the region where Lindgren was born and raised, along with its symbolic flower, the Linnaea borealis.