Frank Cottrell Boyce on Tove Jansson

Great Lives

BBC

History, Documentary, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2020

⏱️ 28 minutes

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Summary

"One of the best things a children's writer can do is to implant sign posts in childhood to things that are good, and to the small pleasures that will get you through life" Frank Cottrell-Boyce Tove Jansson was born in Helsinki in 1914. An artist, illustrator and writer she became best known as the creator of The Moomins, the little white trolls who lived in Moominvalley with other fantastical creatures such as the Hattifatteners, Mymbles and Whompers. Acclaimed screenwriter and children's author Frank Cottrell-Boyce has described Tove Jansson as his 'Guardian Angel' having first discovered Moominvalley one Saturday morning in his local library in Liverpool. He encountered Comets, Great Floods and a little Midsummer Madness all of which were met with the warmth and wisdom of Moomin-Mamma, the gentle observance of Snufkin and the inventiveness of Little My. Fantastical in their adventures but rooted in reality and humanity, Frank Cottrell-Boyce champions the creator of Mooninvalley who poured her fascinating life into her books. Drawing inspiration from childhood disagreements about the philosopher Immanuel Kant, creative ways to survive a war and a forbidden - but wonderful - love story that lasted a life time. Producer in Bristol is Nicola Humphries Presented by Matthew Parris Guest Expert Boel Westin Author of 'Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words' (Pre-recorded earlier this year)

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and trust me you'll get there in a moment but if you're a comedy fan
0:05.2	I'd really like to tell you a bit about what we do. I'm Julie Mackenzie and I commission comedy
0:10.2	podcast at the BBC. It's a bit of a dream job really.
0:13.0	Comedy is a fantastic joyous thing to do because really you're making people laugh,
0:18.0	making people's days a bit better, helping them process, all manner of things.
0:22.0	But you know I also know that comedy is really
0:24.4	subjective and everyone has different tastes so we've got a huge range of comedy on offer
0:29.6	from satire to silly shocking to soothing profound to just general pratting about. So if you
0:36.2	fancy a laugh, find your next comedy at BBC Sounds.
0:40.8	For this week's great lives, we'll be journeying into the land of snark maidens, two tickies,
0:46.8	Philly jonks, toffles and little mies.
0:50.0	We will witness comets, great floods and a little midsummer madness.
0:54.8	But this is not just a story of mythical creatures and fairy tales.
0:59.0	Along the way, we'll find ways to survive a war and discover an enduring love story that flourished despite the
1:06.1	necessity of discretion. All of this from our great life, Torver Janssen, the Finnish artist, author and cartoonist, best known as the creator of the Moomins,
1:17.0	the little white trolls who lived in Moomin Valley with other fantastical creatures such as the Hattie fateners, mimbles and wampers.
1:25.6	In her diary, Torver wrote, I have longed for adventure since I was a little clapper of a bell,
1:32.2	and joining me on this adventure... since I was a little clapper of a bell.
1:32.6	And joining me on this adventure
1:35.1	is Frank Cottrell Boyce, acclaimed children's writer
1:38.2	himself, author of the astounding broccoli boy,
1:41.6	millions and Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth.
	...

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