A children’s book translated by Strindberg

August Strindberg: Barnens fröjder.

Stockholm, Jos. Seligmann & Co., 1879. 27 x 23,5 cms. Six colour plates
with text.

Original pictorial wrappers, lightly soiled, spine mended, lower outer
corner of front cover dog-eared, faint traces of writing in pencil on
lower cover. A good copy of a fragile and very rare book.

Translation by Strindberg of ”Tottie's nursery rhymes” by Laura
Valentine (1878).

"In 1879 […] Seligmann wants Strindberg to translate three English
children's books. Just as before, he accepts, but does not want his name
on the books, but insists that his wife be named as the author.
Strindberg writes, among other things: 'I took on the orders because it
is my principle to never refuse, but as I could not execute them myself,
I took help. This is the simple truth'. The titles 'Barnen fröjder' and
'Bilder och visor' were published in the same year as Strindberg’s
breakthrough novel ’The Red Room’. They were all published around the
same time in December. Even the breakthrough was published by Seligmann,
and the rest is history, so to speak. The third children's book with the
original title ’Hush-a-bye baby’ was never released" (Kungl.
Biblioteket).

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