Celebrating the latest German ‘Hobbit’ edition, illustrated by Tove Jansson, at Frankfurt Book Fair
The Leipzig Book Fair is by far my favourite as it exudes a love for reading and readers that a business-centred space like Frankfurt seems to lack at times. The whole town of Leipzig essentially lights up with events that can range from publishers’ presentations to the weirdest theatre presentations, all about books. Almost 300.000 people participated this year. I was one of them and a chat with a friend certainly proved terribly lucky for me – I was asked (again) to write for the German Tolkien publisher Hobbitpresse‘s magazine, the Tolkien Times, and about The Hobbit – illustrated by Tove Jansson.
Now, I had memories in the back of my mind of the Moomins – the loveable trolls Tove Jansson is so rightly well-known for across the globe. And even though they are decades ‘old’, they are alive and kicking, indeed! Not only has a major exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library closed its doors only a few weeks ago – a new film is in the making.
Having said this, the Moomins did not stick in the back of my mind – to me as a kid the anime style of Heidi or Captain Future was much closer to the mark. Not much of a surprise, given how much I love fantasy and science fiction (and the fact, that Heidi is a literary treasure of the German-speaking countries – and beyond!)
Anyway, when I was asked to talk about Tove Jansson’s illustrations for Tolkien’s The Hobbit it offered me – once again – to go down a rabbithole. I quickly found out that Jansson is a most fascinating person with an even more fascinating life. Do check out the award-winning biopic TOVE.
I read a number of her novels, comic books, Moomin stories etc. I read the excellent biography by Tuula Karjalainen: Tove Jansson. Work and Love (2014). I watched TOVE and then I even did a pocast on it (still to be released!)
I was intrigued and fascinated by what I learned about a most interesting creative mind.
And that the artistry of this particular mind crossed, even if indirectly, the path of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination.
Now, the German publisher Hobbitpresse wanted me to do a presentation but not a lecture – it was supposed to be a chat in a relaxed atmosphere, quizzing me about The Hobbit and what I had learned about Tove Jansson and her illustrations. Huge thanks go out to Sonja Virta from Finland who helped me bring both the facts and the fun bits to this chat, hosted by marketing whiz Julia Kanthak.
The location was a very unusal space for what a lot of people would expect from Frankfurt Book Fair – we were with the historical ninepins alley of the Freemason’s Lodge ‘Zur Einigkeit’ in Frankfurt. Yes, it does sound odd – but the location was absolutely perfect for the Eolian Club, the Hobbitpresse book bloggers’ networking event.
The name is taken from Patrick Rothfuss’ Name of the Wind who gave us his blessing at the first Eolian Club on a zoom call. Since then the Club had Natasha Pulley and Chloe Gong as guests of honour at the event, with this, the fourth such event, it was Tad Williams.
So I literally had to speak about The Hobbit and Tove Jansson before Tad Williams who had finished the Osten Ard II stories and talked about that! Trust me, I was nervous like hell (see the glass of Merlot!)
Fun Fact I had interviewed Tad Williams more than twenty years ago for the then fantasy magazine Nautilus in Germany. It was one of the most entertaining and insightful chats I have ever had and if I had not already been a fan of Williams’ work I would have become one on the spot.
And sure enough, he remembered our chat in Cologne and signed my edition of his book.
So the fanboi in me was more than pleased that evening as well!
Anyway, the location, the service and the catering were absolutely splendid. Add that to meeting glorious people from all over the country that I had not seen in ages like my good friend Claudia Rapp (chairwoman of the SFCD and my former landlady!), Klaudia Seibel of the Phantastische Bibliothek Wetzlar, or Isabella Ilievska aka speardaughter whose Instagram account is one of the most beautiful ones when it comes to Tolkien.
And those are just a few – there were many more people with an unrelenting love for books. These are the moments I truly live for and I am so happy and proud to participate in.
And judging from the reaction afterwards, with several people coming up to me and thanking me for sharing the joy on both Tolkien and Jansson I can only hope everyone liked it – and it was not too much of a bore. I enjoyed myself immensely – and at the end of the event we stayed for more drinks and food and played ninepins ☺️
My thanks go out to the Hobbitpresse for having me at their amazing event, to Sonja Virta, for enlightening me on many things Tove Jansson, and to JRRT for just being who he is.
P.S. The piece I wrote for the Tolkien Times does connect some dots between Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Astrid Lindgren, Tove Jansson, and Terry Pratchett.
P.P.S. I have dedicated this text to the memory of my dear friend Becky Dillon who recently passed away.
