Astrid Lindgren 
A World Gone Mad 
The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren, 1939-45

A civilian, a mother, and a writer's unique account of a world devastated by conflict'A rare glimpse of life in neutral Sweden and an insight into the dark setting that created her best-known work' FTBefore she became internationally known for her children's books, Astrid Lindgren was an aspiring author living in Stockholm with her family at the outbreak of The Second World War. In these diaries, Lindgren emerges as a morally courageous critic of violence and war, as well as a deeply sensitive and astute observer of world affairs. Alongside political events, she includes delightful vignettes of domestic life, moments of personal crisis, and reveals the origins of Pippi Longstocking – soon to become one of the most famous and beloved children's books of the twentieth century.

About the author

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) is the third most translated writer for children (after Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm), and her books have sold more than 144 million copies worldwide. She became famous in her country almost overnight, with the publication of the first Pippi Longstocking books in 1945, and was awarded numerous honours, including the Hans Christian Andersen medal (twice) and the Gold Medal of the Swedish Academy in 1971.