This is my letter from Tove Jansson, Finnish artist, cartoonist, novelist, and story-teller. I have been (and still am) influenced by her stories and illustrations since I first discovered her books. I wrote her a letter in 1978 (1977?) and she wrote me back. I’ve kept her letter for over 35 years. She wrote:
Dear Stephen,
Thank you for your letter! I am so very glad to know that you really like my stories! Here is the island where I live five months a year, it looks rather forbidding but is full of wild flowers. You should see the storms out there in the middle of the Finnish Gulf – Splendid. The signal mast blew down last spring. Now I am in town again and miss the loneliness. I do wish you a fine autumn!
Tove Jansson
I have read and re-read most of her books (I’m told there are a few yet I haven’t discovered!!). I have kept all of her Moomin books, and recently read each of them aloud to my wife, who had not previously heard of Tove Jansson.
If you like, here are some web sites I found about her and her work. Please pass my blog site around until it might reach Finland, and I would be most grateful!!
Stephen Richter
www.moomin.com/tove/
www.facebook.com/pages/Moomin/185958374788084
Hi Steve, I saw your writing on our (www.facebook.com/pages/Moomin/185958374788084) wall. It was hidden by some reason, I made it visible and now it's gone (at least I can't find it).
Please, if you feel like it, write it again. I was not censoring you 🙂 🙂
—
Pekka
webmaster@moomin.fi
Hey Stephen,
What a wonderful letter from Tova! 🙂
It is a true treasure of the heart….
Thank you so much for sharing!
I live in Israel and grow up on Tova's Moomins…now I am also discovering her other books.
I'm sending your blog to my friend who lives in Finland… she would love the letter!
Blessings,
Dafna
P.S.
I got two wonderful documentary movies about Tove: one is about her living in the Island and one about her traveling in Europe with her partner… If you want a copy let me know and I'll send them to you….
that letter is a real treasure…