Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump) is one of Sweden's most internationally recognized children's characters. A strong, independent, and unconventional nine-year-old girl whose childlike fantasies border anarchy, she is a symbol of joyful rebellion.
Pippi lives with her white horse and Mr. Nilsson, her monkey, in a large, colorful, and dilapidated house, Villa Villekulla. She is instantly recognizable by her fiery red hair worn in two stiff red braids that stick straight out, her freckled face, her signature mismatched stockings, and her oversized shoes.
Pippi is an orphan in the traditional sense, but she insists her mother is an angel in heaven and her father, Captain Efraim Longstocking, is a pirate king in the South Seas. She fully expects him to return soon.
Cheerful, adventurous, and highly imaginative, Pippi challenges authority and social norms, following no rules but her own. Seeing absurdity in social conventions, she'll sleep with her feet on the pillow.
Pippi is also a notorious liar, although her lies are usually tall tales told for fun. They are often about her travels around the world with her father. Despite her tendency to exaggerate, she is kind-hearted and generous (especially to animals).
Pippi was created by author Astrid Lindgren in 1941 to entertain her daughter, Karin, who was sick with pneumonia. The first book was published in 1945 after initially being rejected by several publishers for being too radical. It stirred controversy among some adults who worried Pippi was a bad influence who promoted disrespect and encouraged mischief. This only cemented her status as a revolutionary figure who embodied the limitless possibilities and glorious chaos of an uninhibited childhood.
She is even seen as an early feminist icon. Physically stronger than any man—she can lift her horse and uproot trees—Pippi is completely financially independent, with a suitcase full of gold coins. She lives life entirely on her own terms. Hon klarar sig själv. "She takes care of herself."
Crucial to the plot are Pippi's next-door neighbors, two well-behaved, more traditional children named Tommy and Annika Settigren. Neat, obedient, and conventional, they are Pippi's antithesis—who nonetheless are instantly fascinated by Pippi and join her wild adventures.
The Swedish stories of Pippi Longstocking have been translated into more than 70 languages and have been adapted into films, television series, and stage plays, making her a beloved character for children worldwide.