The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Dover Children's Classics) [Paperback]

Selma Lagerlof (Author), Thea Kliros (Illustrator), Velma Swanston Howard (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Dover Children's Classics

Considered a masterpiece since first published in 1907, this enchanting, remarkably original work by a Nobel Prize-winning author records the adventures of a mischievous 14-year-old who is changed into a tiny being, transported across the Swedish countryside on the back of a goose, and learns about nature, geography, and folklore.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Nil's travels give readers the opportunity to learn about Swedish towns, their inhabitants and traditions. This is one of Sweden's best-loved children's books.' -- Folk & Fairy Tales: A Book Guide, Booktrust, Winter 2004 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 13, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486286118
• ISBN-13: 978-0486286112
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #532,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic stumbled upon accidentally., September 1, 1999

By 

C. Moon (Valley Village, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Dover Children's Classics) (Paperback)

Though this story easily deserves 5 stars, it suffers slightly due to the author's agenda (she was commissioned to write a geography book for children). Knowing this, it is easy to hurl criticism at those chapters that seem to exist solely for the purpose of education. Nonetheless, once this minor fault (and I am not really sure you can call it a fault) is recognized, the story of Nils is a fantastic one, seemingly not at all distant from native folklore and fairy tales, rich with an earthiness that simply doesn't exist in modern children literature. Of course, Lagerlof does more then simply make a modern day fairy-tale. There are passages here that are simply too delightful for description; one which comes to mind is a gathering of all the animals to celebrate the coming of spring--the image and significance crafted by the author are bound to stay with the reader for a life-time. I haven't read anything else by Lagerlof, and only found this book by accident at a local vendor. If I have any complaint it is that Dover does not offer the sequel to this work (at this writing anyway), though apparently another publisher offers it at a much higher price. I think anyone who enjoys folktales/folklore and whimsical animal fantasies (I.E. Wind in the Willows, the Moomin books, etc.) will find this book very rewarding and enjoy the opportunity to read an unknown classic (in Sweden, Nils actually appears on their money!)

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, November 10, 2000

By 

"anapurna" (Seattle, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Hardcover)

My dad read me this book when I was just young in Swedish. He is from Sweden and wanted his children born in America to know the culture and history of his homeland. That is what this book is about. It's actually a story of the geography of Sweden from the south up to the north. Taken from the view of a young trouble maker,who shrunken, rides on the back of a wild goose you get to experience the adventure with him. A delightful, delightful book.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fairy tale that is not what it seems to be., November 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Dover Children's Classics) (Paperback)

When you read this book if you read it by yourself or to your children it pulls you right in. The beautiful destriptions of the land gives you a geographic picture. The stories give you good examples and the whole book gives you something that you will never forget. This is a book you want to read over and over.