Snufkin
Encyclopedia
Snufkin is a character in the Moomin
series of books authored by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson
, appearing in six of the nine books. He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll
, and lives a nomadic lifestyle, only staying in Moominvalley in the spring and summer, but leaving for warmer climates down south every winter. He is the son of the elder Mymble and the Joxter, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and Little My
.
Snufkin wears old green clothes and a wide brimmed hat he has had since birth. He lives in a tent, smokes a pipe and plays the harmonica. Snufkin also has a great dislike for authority figures such as the Park Keeper, and the many regulation signs and fences he puts up, and as such is often thought of as an anarchist. At one point he sabotages the Park Keeper by planting Hattifattener
s in his garden, causing them to grow and drive him out. He has a great hatred for all symbols of private property
, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley".
Snufkin prefers freely-growing foliage to fenced-in lawns. Snufkin keeps as few worldly possessions as possible, seeing them as a burden, and being happier keeping the memory of a thing than the thing itself. This aspect of his personality is contrasted in the character of Sniff.
Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé, Atos Wirtanen
.
He is absent from The Moomins and the Great Flood
, Moominland Midwinter
and Moominpappa at Sea
, though he is at least mentioned in both the latter books.
Snufkin also has cameo roles in the picture-books Who Will Comfort Toffle?
, The Dangerous Journey
and An Unwanted Guest
. He is also generally a prominent character in other Moomin media, such as comics and TV series.
Moomin
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses...
series of books authored by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson
Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-Finnish novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. She is best known as the author of the Moomin books.- Biography :...
, appearing in six of the nine books. He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll
Moomintroll
Moomintroll is the main character in the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. He lives in the Moominhouse together with his father Moominpappa and his mother Moominmamma and has a keen spirit of adventure. Moomintroll is a 'moomin' - a little white troll with a hippopotamus-like big round nose.His best...
, and lives a nomadic lifestyle, only staying in Moominvalley in the spring and summer, but leaving for warmer climates down south every winter. He is the son of the elder Mymble and the Joxter, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and Little My
Little My
Little My is a character in the Moomin series of books by Tove Jansson. She first appears in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa . She is a small, determined and fiercely independent Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away...
.
Snufkin wears old green clothes and a wide brimmed hat he has had since birth. He lives in a tent, smokes a pipe and plays the harmonica. Snufkin also has a great dislike for authority figures such as the Park Keeper, and the many regulation signs and fences he puts up, and as such is often thought of as an anarchist. At one point he sabotages the Park Keeper by planting Hattifattener
Hattifattener
The Hattifatteners are creatures in the Moomin books and comic strips by Tove Jansson. They are particularly prominent in the books Finn Family Moomintroll....
s in his garden, causing them to grow and drive him out. He has a great hatred for all symbols of private property
Private property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley".
Snufkin prefers freely-growing foliage to fenced-in lawns. Snufkin keeps as few worldly possessions as possible, seeing them as a burden, and being happier keeping the memory of a thing than the thing itself. This aspect of his personality is contrasted in the character of Sniff.
Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé, Atos Wirtanen
Atos Wirtanen
Atos Kasimir Wirtanen was a Finnish left-wing intellectual, journalist, member of Finnish parliament and cultural critic. He was born in Saltvik. Wirtanen rose to parliament from the Social Democratic Party of Finland list, but in 1946 he defected to the Finnish People's Democratic League...
.
Appearances
Snufkin appears in the following books:- 2. Comet in MoominlandComet in MoominlandComet In Moominland is the second in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomin books, published in 1946....
– The first appearance of a Snufkin that has not yet developed into the wise bohemianBohemianismBohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
. Here he meets with MoomintrollMoomintrollMoomintroll is the main character in the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. He lives in the Moominhouse together with his father Moominpappa and his mother Moominmamma and has a keen spirit of adventure. Moomintroll is a 'moomin' - a little white troll with a hippopotamus-like big round nose.His best...
and SniffSniffSniff is a character in the Moomin series of books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. Moomintroll's immature friend and later adopted brother. He is the son of the Muddler and the Fuzzy. He is one of the few characters in the Moomin series who is sincerely interested in money, and is always on the...
on the journey to the observatory in an attempt to prevent the comet hitting Moominland. - 3 Finn Family MoomintrollFinn Family MoomintrollFinn Family Moomintroll is the third in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1948...
– In this book, Snufkin's role as a solitary wanderer is firmly established While he stays in Moominvalley during spring and early summer, in the late summer and last part of the book he leaves to go off on his wanderings, promising to return next spring. - 4 The Exploits of MoominpappaThe Exploits of MoominpappaThe Exploits of Moominpappa, first published in 1950 and then considerably revised in 1968 under the title Moominpappa's Memoirs, is the fourth book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. The story found in this book is mentioned in the previous Moomin books, as Moominpappa writes his memoirs in...
– Snufkin plays a minor role in this book, as one of the people who listen to MoominpappaMoominpappaMoominpappa - is a character in the Moomin series of books by Finnish author Tove Jansson.Orphaned in his youth, Moominpappa is a somewhat restless soul who left the orphanage to venture out into the world but has now settled down, determined to be a responsible father to his family: his wife...
's story, but his family background is also explained as his father, the Joxter, is a main character in the story. - 5 Moominsummer MadnessMoominsummer MadnessMoominsummer Madness is the fourth in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1954.The novel forms the basis of episodes 28-30 in the 1990 TV series.-Plot summary:...
– Here, Snufkin plays a larger role again. He battles a rule-obsessed Park Keeper, saves Little MyLittle MyLittle My is a character in the Moomin series of books by Tove Jansson. She first appears in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa . She is a small, determined and fiercely independent Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away...
when she gets separated from the rest of the family, and briefly (and unwillingly) becomes the father figure to a group of orphans. - 7 Tales from MoominvalleyTales from MoominvalleyTales from Moominvalley is the sixth book in the Moomin series by Finnish author, Tove Jansson. Unlike all the other books, which were novels, it is a book of short stories, and is the longest book in the series...
– This book consists of several short stories, three of which heavily feature Snufkin: A Spring Tune, where a talkative squirrel keeps him from composing the melody he wants, The Last Dragon on Earth, where Moomintroll's newfound "pet" dragon falls in love with him, and Cedric, where he tells Sniff a story about his mother's aunt. - 9 Moominvalley in NovemberMoominvalley in NovemberMoominvalley in November is the ninth and final book in the Moomin series by Finnish author Tove Jansson, and was first published in both her native Swedish and English in 1971...
– In the last of the books, Snufkin and several other characters end up in a Moominvalley where the Moomins have left (they've gone to live on an island, as described in the previous book, Moominpappa at SeaMoominpappa at SeaMoominpappa at Sea is the seventh book in the Moomin books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It is based primarily around the character of Moominpappa. It was first published in 1965...
) and have to try and live in the valley without their reassuring presence.
He is absent from The Moomins and the Great Flood
The Moomins and the Great Flood
The Moomins and the Great Flood is a book written by Finnish author Tove Jansson in 1945...
, Moominland Midwinter
Moominland Midwinter
Moominland Midwinter is the fifth in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1957.This book sees Jansson adopt a darker, more introspective tone compared to the earlier books that is continued in the remainder of the series.Often in the book Moomintroll is either lonely,...
and Moominpappa at Sea
Moominpappa at Sea
Moominpappa at Sea is the seventh book in the Moomin books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It is based primarily around the character of Moominpappa. It was first published in 1965...
, though he is at least mentioned in both the latter books.
Snufkin also has cameo roles in the picture-books Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Who Will Comfort Toffle? is the second picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was first published in 1960. It was first translated into English by Kingsley Hart....
, The Dangerous Journey
The Dangerous Journey
The Dangerous Journey is a children's picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was published in 1977...
and An Unwanted Guest
An Unwanted Guest
Skurken i muminhuset is a children's picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was published in 1980....
. He is also generally a prominent character in other Moomin media, such as comics and TV series.