Ronja, the Robber's Daughter
Ronia the Robber's Daughter (1981) is the last book by the noted Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren. In the film based on the story, Ronia was played by Hanna Zetterberg Struwe.
Ronia, its main character, is a girl growing up in a castle in the wood in a band of robbers; as the chief's only child, she is expected to become the leader of the band someday. Their castle, Matt's Fort, was split in two parts by a lightning bolt on the day of her birth; soon afterwards, a different robber clan, the 'Borkas', settled one section, resulting in perpetual armed strife. Ronia feels rather out of place in this harsh environment; nearly her only friend is the old man Noddle-Pete, and for a while she hates her father Matt. One day, Ronia sees Birk Borkason, the only son of the enemy chieftain, Borka, idling by the chasm that splits the two parts of the castle. She engages him in a game of jumping across the chasm, a game that ends with Birk almost falling to his death. After Ronia has saved him they slowly start to become friends.
During a long and cold winter Ronia secretly brings food to Birk who is starving in Borkas side of the castle. They get very close but both know that their families would not accept their friendship. Later that year Birk saves Ronia from being captured by the faeries only to be captured himself by Ronias father. Ronia gives herself as a captive to the Borkas so she can be exchanged for Birk, but as a result her father disowns her and refuses to let her be his daughter. Birk and Ronia run away to live in the woods away from the robbers but in the end, their families repent of their feuding, and everyone is reunited.
The story contains several made-up creatures, such as the rumphobs, gray dwarfs and the cruel but beautiful wild harpies.
Translations
Two English translations exist which provide different translations of the Swedish names.
| Swedish, Ronja rövardotter | English, 1983, Methuen Children's Books, The Robber's Daughter | English, 1985, Puffin Books, Ronia, the Robber's Daughter |
|---|---|---|
| Ronja | Kirsty | Ronia |
| Mattis | Matt | Matt |
| Lovis | Lena | Lovis |
| Borka | Ranulf | Borka |
| Undis | Hanna | Undis |
| Birk | Burl | Birk |
| Skalle-Per | Skinny-Pete | Noddle-Pete |
| Tjegge | Shaggy | Shaggy |
| Pelje | Proudfoot | Pelle |
| Fjosok | Fulke | Foolok |
| Jutis | Jolly | Jutto |
| Joen | Jip | Jep |
| Labbas | Knuckles | Knuckles |
| Knotas | Knott | Knott |
| Turre | Tapper | Tapper |
| Tjorm | Tobbit | Torm |
| Sturkas | Bumper | Bumper |
| Lill-Klippen | Snip | Little Snip |
Movies
- 1984 Ronia the Robber's Daughter (English Subtitles)
References
^ Edström, Vivi (2000) [1992]. Astrid Lindgren: A Critical Study. Eivor Cormack, trans. Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 271–293.