When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town

When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town

First edition
Author Thorbjørn Egner
Original title Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by
Translator L. Berg & E. Ramsden
Illustrator Thorbjørn Egner
Country Norway
Language Norwegian
Genre Children's novel
Publisher J.W. Cappelens Forlag
Publication date
1955
Published in English
1976
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN 978-82-02-13977-3
OCLC 30971127

When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town (Norwegian: Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by) is a 1955 Norwegian children's book written and illustrated by Thorbjørn Egner, which tells the story of Kardemomme by (Cardamom Town). It is considered as one of the most important Norwegian children's books. The book includes many songs which are connected to the story. The story is well adapted for playing as a theatre act with musical elements.

Plot summary

The book is about the peaceful town of Kardemomme and the people there, as well as the only characters which stir up serious trouble. They are the three robbers, Casper, Jasper and Jonathan who live outside the town and regularly enter to steal the things they need. The robbers get arrested and are treated well in jail. In the end they get reformed, and in the final chapter they become the heroes of the day when they extinguish a fire in the tower of the town. Finally Casper becomes the town's fireman, Jasper becomes the town's circus manager and Jonathan becomes the town's baker.

Characters

Main characters

Minor characters

Theme park

The setting of Kardemomme by was made into part of a theme park in Kristiansand Zoo in 1991. Thorbjørn Egner lived to see the theme park under construction, but not to see it completed.

Law

Law of Cardamom (Norwegian: Kardemommeloven) is the only law in Cardamom Town. The law is simple and liberal:

One shall not bother others,
one shall be nice and kind,
otherwise one may do as one pleases.

Songs

Some of the songs from the book/play were issued on the EP album Kardemommeviser in 1955. The 1975 album Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (with Egner playing the Jonathan character) was awarded the Spellemann award.

Film adaptation

The book was made into a film in 1988, directed by Bente Erichsen.

Publication history

References

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