Finn Family Moomintroll

Infobox Book
name = Finn Family Moomintroll
title_orig = "Trollkarlens hatt"
translator = Elizabeth Portch


image_caption =
author = Tove Jansson
illustrator = Tove Jansson
cover_artist = Tove Jansson
country = Finland
language = Swedish
series = Moomins
subject =
genre = Children's novel
publisher =
pub_date = 1948
english_pub_date = 1961
media_type =
pages =
isbn = ISBN 014030150X (English)
oclc =
preceded_by = Comet in Moominland
followed_by = The Exploits of Moominpappa

"Finn Family Moomintroll" (Swedish title "Trollkarlens hatt", ‘The Magician's Hat’) is the third in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1948.

It was the first Moomin book to be published in English, and was actually marketed as the first in the series until the 1980s.

The 1961 English publication features a "foreword" by Moominmamma, where she explains the nature of Moomins for fear that English children may not have heard of them; she also apologises for her "rottn" English. Otherwise, the book was translated by Elizabeth Portch.

The Austrian/Polish and the Japanese animated television series were largely based on this novel.

Plot summary

Moomintroll, Sniff and Snufkin discover the Hobgoblin's Hat on a mountain-top, oblivious of its strange powers. Moomintroll hides inside the hat during a game of hide-and-seek and is temporarily transformed beyond recognition.

The Moomin Family travel to the Island of the Hattifatteners, and the Moominhouse is transformed into a jungle when Moominmamma absent-mindedly drops a ball of poisonous pink perennials into the Hobgoblin's Hat.

Thingumy and Bob arrive clutching a large suitcase containing the King's Ruby, which they stole from the Groke. After a court case (presided over by the Snork) the Groke agrees to exchange the ruby for the Hobgoblin's Hat.

Thingumy and Bob steal Moominmamma's handbag to use as a bed, but return it when they realise how upset she is.

The Moomins hold a party to celebrate, during which the Hobgoblin arrives (with a new hat) demanding the King's Ruby, to the refusal of Thingumy and Bob.

To cheer himself up, the Hobgoblin grants everyone at the party a wish. Although not everyone gets exactly what they wished for, the Hobgoblin is delighted when Thingumy and Bob wish for a duplicate ruby to give him - the Queen's Ruby. (As it turns out, the Hobgoblin can grant the wishes of others, but not his own wishes).

Audio Version

An audio book, complete and unabridged, read by Hugh Laurie, was released in 2002 by the BBC.

External links

* [http://www.moomintrove.com/014030150X-2-detail.htm The Moomin Trove]

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