3 Trials
I was reading Chapter 5 of Finn Family Moomintroll tonight and wondering about great trial scenes in children’s books. The argument between the Hemulen (who is counsel for Thingumy and Bob) and Sniff (the prosecutor) is fantastically good, if brief. The whole thing is just one of the high points of the whole Moomin series. 2 other great courtroom scenes: the trial in The Magic Pudding, and (of course) the prosecution of the Knave of Hearts. Any other good ones? What is especially fun about the court of law in the context of kids’ books? In the Moomintrial, I really like how sort of lovably pompous and at the same time sympathetic the Hemulen is when he’s arguing that Thingumy and Bob deserve “the Contents” of their suitcase even if they belong to the Groke, because Thingumy and Bob believe the Contents to be the most beautiful thing in the world, while the Groke only thinks it is the most expensive thing.
3 Comments
Have you ever read the Moomin Valley picture book Who Will Comfort Toffle? We just bought a rather expensiveish copy here and it's really quite lovely. Gorgeous illustrations and sweet story in rhyme.
Link to this comment | 7:31 PM | October 12, 2007
I haven't read it, though I have heard about it. I just ordered it from an Amazon used-book seller in Indiana, who has copies for $12! Also there is a picture book called The Book of Moomin, Mymble and Little My which I have never read, and the original (pre-Comet) Moomin book is The Little Trolls and the Big Flood, which you can read here -- an English translation has never been published. Other Moomin stuff: there is a Finnish opera based on the Moomins, and a (rather lame) Japanese cartoon.
Looking forward to Who Will Comfort Toffle?.
Link to this comment | 10:24 PM | October 12, 2007
Oh. Hmm...well that link does not appear to be active any longer. Ah! Here's one.
Link to this comment | 10:42 PM | October 12, 2007