Astrid Lindgren was born in 1907, and grew up at a farm called Näs in the south of Sweden. Her first book was published in 1944, followed a year later by Pippi Longstocking. She wrote 34 chapter books and 41 picture books, that all together have sold 165 million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into 107 different languages and according to UNESCO's annual list, she is the 18th most translated author in the world.
She created stories about Pippi, a free-spirited, red-haired girl to entertain her daughter, Karin, who was ill with pneumonia. The girl's name "Pippi Longstocking" was in fact invented by Karin. Astrid Lindgren once commented about her work, "I write to amuse the child within me, and can only hope that other children may have some fun that way, too".
She created stories about Pippi, a free-spirited, red-haired girl to entertain her daughter, Karin, who was ill with pneumonia. The girl's name "Pippi Longstocking" was in fact invented by Karin. Astrid Lindgren once commented about her work, "I write to amuse the child within me, and can only hope that other children may have some fun that way, too".
