The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Nils Holgersson #1) [B1870-Abridged]

2017 HC Floris newly illustrated, abridged, 11.5x8.5-inch, 96-page picture book edition of the 500+ page 1906 classic Swedish children's tale, in nice clean condition. From Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909 - the first woman (and LGBT) to be so honored. Lagerlöf was a gifted storyteller whose writings often embraced the supernatural and were rooted in the sagas and legends of her homeland. She secured her reputation as a children's book author with The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, long considered a masterpiece of children's literature. Written at the request of Swedish school authorities and first published in 1906, it is the enchanting and remarkably original tale of Nils Holgersson, a mischievous boy of 14 who is transformed by an elf into a tiny being able to understand the speech of birds and animals. Brilliantly weaving fact and fiction into a breathtaking and beautiful fable, the story recounts Nils's adventures as he is transported over the countryside on the back of a goose. From this vantage point, Nils witnesses a host of events that provide young readers with an abundance of information about nature, geography, folklore, animal life, and more. This edition is recommended for Ages 5-9.

From the surprisingly many recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Wonderful story. If you are not already familiar with the Adventures of Nils, this is a recommendation I make quite strongly. Makes an excellent gift for a baby shower, etc. The overall quality and illustrations of this particular edition are excellent."; "Very nicely illustrated, which makes the story even better for little kids ;)"; "A farm boy mistreats the animals and disobeys his parents until one day, playing a trick on a magical little being, he suddenly finds himself as small as a gnome! He decides to fly his own goose along with the wild geese that are migrating above, and he has wonderful adventures that teach him about taking responsibility and caring for other beings. When he returns, he is very much a young man and his parents welcome him back with love and delight."; "I'm biased being a Swede, but I do think it is a lovely story and it is nicely illustrated."