The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson

Illustrated by Bertil Lybeck
Translated by Paul Norlen
Scandinavia’s best-loved children’s classic, from the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature 

A Penguin Classic


Nils Holgersson is a naughty boy who tortures animals and never listens to his parents—until one day he wakes up as an elf. Deeply puzzled by his new status, he climbs on a gander’s back and flies away with him, joining a flock of wild geese. As he is carried around Sweden, Nils learns everything about birds, animals, his country and good behavior. Incredibly charming and poignant, The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson is a timeless classic loved by generations of children around the world.
Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1909. Her novel The Saga of Gösta Berling is also available in Penguin Classics.

Paul Norlen (translator) has translated Selma Lagerlöf's The Saga of Gösta Berling for Penguin Classics. He was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prize in 2004 and lives in Seattle.

About

Scandinavia’s best-loved children’s classic, from the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature 

A Penguin Classic


Nils Holgersson is a naughty boy who tortures animals and never listens to his parents—until one day he wakes up as an elf. Deeply puzzled by his new status, he climbs on a gander’s back and flies away with him, joining a flock of wild geese. As he is carried around Sweden, Nils learns everything about birds, animals, his country and good behavior. Incredibly charming and poignant, The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson is a timeless classic loved by generations of children around the world.

Author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1909. Her novel The Saga of Gösta Berling is also available in Penguin Classics.

Paul Norlen (translator) has translated Selma Lagerlöf's The Saga of Gösta Berling for Penguin Classics. He was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prize in 2004 and lives in Seattle.