Tove Jansson

Kuisma Johannes Korhonen (University of Oulu)

Dates

Born 9 Aug 1914
Died 27 Jun 2001
Activity c. 1933-c. 1999

Places

Born in Finland
Active in Finland

Cultural Identities

LGBTIQ+

Activities

Primary

Children's/Young Adult writer

Other

Artist
Novelist

Resources

In Finland and Japan, England and Malaysia, Poland and Canada, all over the world both children and adults know Moomins. One can meet those funny looking, hippo-like trolls in books, comics, films and animation series; they feature as characters in children’s toys, mugs, toothpaste, diapers, and numerous other commercial products. Beneath the commercial turmoil, however, hides an ever growing literary fandom, children, teens, and adults who have found Tove Jansson’s original Moomin books – illustrated novels and short stories, as well as imaginative picture books. These readers return to Moomin tales, year after year, for their literary imagination, philosophical depth, and psychological insight, in addition to their delicate interplay of word and image.

Tove Jansson was, however, not only a creator of Moomins, but an energetic and multitalented artist who made an impressive career in...

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3189 words

Citation: Korhonen, Kuisma Johannes. "Tove Jansson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 December 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13491, accessed 22 May 2026.]