Bernard Caleo on How Moomins Help Us to Appreciate Sadness

Ever since he met Tove Jansson’s Moomins lurking in the corner of the Northcote Library in 1973, Bernard Caleo has been comforted and haunted by these large-snouted, pig-like, adventurous, bohemian, lonely characters. He’s not the only one – since Jansson’s The Moomins and the Great Flood was first published in 1945, the series has spawned nine books, a comic strip, multiple television series, a Finnish theme park and a legion of fans of all ages.

What is it about the Moomins that has so enchanted multiple generations of readers? Bernard reckons it might just have something to do with the emotional gulf between Jansson’s  words and her exquisite line drawings. Join Bernard for a magical and surprising illustrated talk, as he shares his thoughts about how the Moomins help us to appreciate sadness.