The wonderful and winding journeys of Nils Holgersson in Spain

Abstract

Selma Lagerlöf’s The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906–1907), originally a Swedish geography textbook, became a literary classic translated into 60 languages. This study explores its Spanish translations from 1921 and 1982, and focuses on the book’s reception in Spain. Which role did it come to play in the new context? Based on press material from 1905–1985, it finds that the book appeared in Spanish media as early as 1910, following Lagerlöf’s Nobel Prize. Spanish critics, influenced by French cultural authorities, praised its imagination more than its educational intent. In the 1980s, the story resurfaced through a TV adaptation, prompting new interest. The study highlights how the work has transcended its original educational context.