Stockholm, Sweden — Writer Astrid Lindgren, whose freethinking character Pippi Longstocking has been cherished by youngsters around the world for decades, died Monday. She was 94.
Drawing on her childhood memories, Lindgren wrote more than 100 works, including novels, short stories, plays, song books and poetry. Her works were translated into dozens of languages, ranging from Azerbaijani to Zulu, and sold more than 130 million copies worldwide. Some 40 films and television series were based on Lindgren's stories.
Her most popular character was the freckled Pippi Longstocking, with her unmistakable braided red hair and mismatched stockings.
The writer was immensely popular in her homeland, where Swedes recall her soothing, gentle voice reading tales that became part of the culture. A theme park with settings from her books opened in 1989 in southern Sweden and attracts about 300,000 visitors yearly.
While Pippi Longstocking was an instant hit among children when she first appeared in 1945, parents often were shocked by the unruly Pippi, who rebelled against society and happily mocked institutions like the police and charity ladies.
Another favorite character was Karlsson-On-the-Roof, who described himself as "handsome, remarkably wise, and just plump enough in fact a Man in his Prime." With a propeller on his back, he would fly over Stockholm.
"Children know much better than grown-ups what is real and what is unreal," Lindgren told Swedish radio. "I have written the books for myself, for my own pleasure and I don't want to moralize or teach them to behave."
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