On her 112th birthday (9 August 1914), here’s a book I finished reading on the 25th anniversary of her death (27 June 2001). Tove Jansson was born on the same day as me, and I hope I make it to 96 too. Tuula Karjalainen fills out the story she started in her bibliography of Tove, which David McDuff translate as Work and Love (note these are in the imperative!). In the new book, Tove Jansson ja maailman lapset, Karjalainen weaves together letters from children all over the world, and Tove’s replies. This visuals are very similar. Tove looks right out at you from the black-and-white-photo on the front cover, but a colourful strip of Moomin characters adorn the spine and back.
And it’s the visuals that make this book worth having and holding. The pages brim with sketches and snippets from Tove’s replies, as well as illustrations from her book covers and the comic strips. Including the illustrations used on UNICEF Christmas cards for the world’s children today. Tuula Karjalainen is an art historian and she draws them together beautifully around themes. The text itself can feel a bit repetitive in places. But that’s partly because before it, I’d read Viesti (Meddelande) which includes short stories based on some of her fanmail.
The letters show that children’s concerns haven’t changed that much. But that where and how they get their advice from has. I’d like to think they still identify with the characters in the same way. Toffle/Nyyti isn’t the only one who needs comforting. Karjalainen closes the book with a St Petersburg Pride festival, where she talked about the new Russian translation of Work and Love. In too many places, to work and love how and who you want is not a given.
“Dear Tove” isn’t a year old, and it hasn’t been translated yet – but hopefully soon will be.
Translator, editor, writer, reader
found in translation 
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