The Wonderful Adventures of Nils has several dimensions. For a
start it is an outer journey in which Nils, who is 14 years old when
they set off, discovers different parts of Sweden. Some considered
the text to be propaganda. Sweden is described in positive terms
and it was said that the purpose was to prevent the large migration
to America that was still taking place at the start of the 20th
century. The pupils were to understand that Sweden was a nice
country to live in after all.
estate and it was sold off in 1890.
– Selma worked as an elementary school
teacher and earned very little money at this
time. But despite being poor she made a
promise. “When I get rich I’m going to buy
back Mårbacka”, she said.
In 1891, Selma Lagerlöf made her
debut with Gösta Berling’s Saga. The
book attracted attention, but many critics
and readers thought it was odd. Her big
breakthrough had to wait a few more years,
and in 1893 the collection of short stories,
Invisible Links, was published.
– It was a lot more accessible and she
had toned down the colourful language
she had used in Gösta Berling’s Saga. She
started earning money from her books and
took the gamble of leaving her work as a
Mårbacka Memorial Estate
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