People and Robbers of Cardemon Town

Infobox Book |
name = People and Robbers of Cardemon Town
title_orig = Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by
translator = L. Berg & E. Ramsden


image_caption =
author = Thorbjørn Egner
illustrator = Thorbjørn Egner
cover_artist =
country = Norway
language = Norwegian
series =
genre = Children's novel
publisher = Oslo
pub_date = 1955
english_pub_date = 1976
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = 978-8202139773
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"People and Robbers of Cardemon Town" (1955) (orig. Norwegian "Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by") is a 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 fit for playing as a theatre act with musical elements. Sometimes more loosely translated as "When the Robbers came to Cardamom Town".

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. In the end the robbers are arrested, but good treatment in the jail by the kindly constable Bastian reforms them, and in the final chapter they become the heroes of the day when they extinguish a fire in the tower of the town.

Characters

These are some of the more well known characters
*The robbers, Casper, Jasper and Jonathan, (Kasper, Jesper og Jonatan) - loud, prone to quarrelling with each other, and live very cluttered. They live in a strange house, with a (kind) lion to protect them.
*Constable Bastian (Politimester Bastian) - the cheerful policeman who is concerned in making sure that everyone is happy.
*Aunt Sophie (Tante Sofie) - a middle aged woman who is the aunt of her young piano-playing niece Kamomilla. Sophie is extremely strict, and the only song she sings is "Aunt Sophies angry song", where she expresses dismay over the horrid state of affairs in the town, and disdain for a number of the people. Regarding Bastian, she sings ("A policeman really ought to be a stern and angry man, who goes around arresting people as often as he can"). However, Sophie is also a sympathetic character, well ordered and capable of giving some sympathy to those who deserve it.
*Tobias - he is the old wise man in the tower with a long beard. His job is to give the town its weather forecast from the balcony of the tower in which he lives.

Theme park

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

Laws

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

:"You should not bother others,":"you should be nice and kind,":"otherwhise you can do as you please."

Movie

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

Publication history

*1955, Norway, ? (ISBN NA), pub date ? ? 1955, hardback (first edition)
*1976, USA, Anchorage Press (ISBN 0876021720), pub date ? December 1976, paperback (first US English ed.) (as "People and Robbers of Cardemon Town" - L. Berg & E. Ramsden translators)
*1993, Norway, J W Cappelens Forlag AS (ISBN 978-8202139773), pub date ? ? 1993, paperback (as "When the Robbers came to Cardamom Town" - Anthony Barnett translator)

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095165/ IMDB entry for the movie]
* [http://www.dyreparken.com/index.jsp?c=17926 Theme park site] (in Norwegian)