Synopses & Reviews
A SCANDINAVIAN MIDCENTURY CLASSIC BACK IN PRINTWho Will Comfort Toffle? is the timeless, magical tale of the wistful wallflower, Toffle-too shy to speak to anyone and too fearful of the world he is watching from afar. Lonely and sad, Toffle runs away from home and watches the magical cast of Moomin Valley—Mymble, My, Snufkin, the merry whompses and the Fillyjonk—celebrate and enjoy life. His insecurity continues to only serve his isolation until he has the courage to overcome his fears by reaching out to another frightened introvert, the mesmerizing Miffle. Who Will Comfort Toffle? is an endearing, introspective story that will speak to readers of all ages—anyone who has ever needed a friend to pull them out of their shell.
Joining Drawn & Quarterlys archival series of Moomin The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip, Moomin, Mymble & Little My, and the Moomintroll chapter books is the glorious reprinting of the Tove Jansson classic childrens book Who Will Comfort Toffle? with a loving translation by British poet Sophie Hannah.
Review
“This book has everything that makes Janssons work so extraordinary: whimsy, joy, economy and complexity.” —
The Independent (U.K.)
“A warm and immensely re-readable story of loneliness and of friendship. The Moomin stories have a timeless quality, and speak to every new generation.” —The Bookseller (U.K.)
“Who Will Comfort Toffle? is classic Jansson, the flat, matte expanses of colour on the pages broken up with psychedelic detail.” —Sunday Telegraph (U.K.)
About the Author
Tove Jansson (1914-2001) was born in Helsinki and spent much of her life in Finland. She is the author of the Moomin books, including Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll. Born into an artistic family—her father was a sculptor and her mother was a graphic designer and illustrator—Jansson studied at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, and LÉcole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In addition to her Moomin books, she also wrote several novels, drew comic strips and worked as a painter and illustrator. In 1966, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her body of work. Jansson had a studio in Helsinki but spent most of her time at her home on a small island called Klovharu.