The Brothers Lionheart
Astrid Lindgren's children's fantasy about two brothers reunited in a magical land after death, and the courage it takes to face tyranny and loss.
First published in Swedish in 1973, Astrid Lindgren’s novel follows two brothers, the brave Jonatan and his admiring younger brother Karl, who meet again after death in the land of Nangiyala. There they join a rebellion against a tyrant and his dragon. Unusually dark for a children’s book, it deals with illness, death, betrayal and courage, set against loyalty, love and hope. It has been translated into 46 languages and remains one of the most loved books in Sweden.
Recommended by 1 Person
Fredrik Backman
My mother read this to me when my grandfather died, when I was 6, to find a way to talk to me about death. It was during that reading that I discovered I could actually read for myself. So Lindgren taught me how to read and how not to be afraid of dying, all at the same time.
Article · May 2017
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