The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Selma Lagerlöf · 1858–1940 · Sweden

Originally Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (Swedish)

Why it matters

A cruel farm boy is shrunk to elf-size and carried across Sweden on a goose's back, learning kindness one province at a time. Commissioned as a geography primer, it became Lagerlöf's best-loved, most translated book.

At a glance

Written for young readers, in clear, episodic prose.