Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) is considered one of the most important and the most popular authors of youth literature in the 20th century. She wrote more than thirty-six books for young people and authored numerous picture books, film scripts, several anthologies and books for adults, as well as plays. During her lifetime she received many prestigious literary awards: the International Prize for Youth Literature  ̶  the Andersen Medal, the Gold Medal of the Swedish Academy of Literature, the Swedish National Prize for Literature, as well as many other tokens of recognition in foreign countries. Her most famous children books include Pippi Longstocking (1945-1948), Master Detective Bill Bergson (1946), Karlsson-on-the-Roof (1955), Rasmus and the Tramp (1956), The World Best Karlsson (1968), The Brothers Lionheart (1973), Ronia the Robber's Daughter (1981).
Combining a realistic style of writing with the vividness of a fantasy world, Lindgren based her stories on her childhood memories and her profound understanding of the needs of children in relation to the dull, plain and unimaginative adult world. She wrote to comfort children and entertain them, never giving up her hope that her books might eventually lead to a more responsible attitude to children. She strongly opposed any violence of adults against children.
Lindgren won world fame with her first youth novel, Pippi Longstocking. It became, together with Rasmus and the Tramp, one of the most cherished children books of all times, winning the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1958.
Rasmus and the Tramp tells the story of a nine-year old Rasmus, a boy with no family or a cosy home, living in an orphanage, and a tramp, called Paradise Oscar. Rasmus is being supervised by an ill-disposed Miss Hawk who keeps an eye on the boy, scolding and rebuking him at all times. Pining for a caring family and a cosy home, Rasmus escapes from the orphanage one night. On his travels he soon meets a friendly and affectionate tramp Oscar who initially instructs him to go back to the orphanage. Loathing the idea, Rasmus wants to stay free in his pursuit of a family. Reconsidering his counsel, Oscar lets Rasmus join him. They make a pleasant living by singing and chopping firewood for old ladies and embark on a series of strange, dangerous but thrilling adventures, since a lot of people are on search for the runaway Rasmus. In town they expose two notorious thieves, Lif and Liander. Eventually, all ends well and Rasmus gradually learns that Oscar is not such a loner after all. He does have a caring person waiting for him while he is drifting. Oscar the Tramp and his wife Martina end up taking Rasmus with open heart in their home, fulfilling his utmost desire: to find a caring family.
Erasmus and the Tramp revolves around a lonely boy’s quest to find a loving family and friends. Rasmus firmly believes in himself and embarks fearlessly on a journey of a lifetime. The tale about a search for love, belonging and family is embedded in a nail-biting detective story about Rasmus and Oscar’s adventures, seasoned with Lindgren’s signature humour.