Kalle, in Sweden, is a nickname for Carl, and Blomkvist’s full name is Carl Mikael. Kalle Blomkvist also happens to be a boy detective in a children’s series by Astrid Lindgren (KB’s called Bill Bergson in English), and so the nickname is kind of a belittling insult – like calling a young female reporter Nancy Drew in North America.

As for Pippi Longstocking, she’s also an Astrid Lindgren character, a partial inspiration for the character of Lisbeth Salander. She doesn’t play by society’s rules, lives independently, and has a “bag full of gold” that gives her a great deal of independence, as Blomkvist notes about Salander in the Millennium series.

Posted by Rachael in Toronto ,

thank you Rachael x

Pippi’s dad is also a bit a mystery & Pippi lives pretty much alone except for her small ape pet and horse, & the neighbours kids. (cf computer, phone , blomquist & mimmi) It’s all on Wiki and a lot of Swedish millenium readers would probably notice even more ‘nods’ (deliberate or otherwise) at characters from Lindgrens books.

Posted by Liz in Sweden ,

Nice, Rachel.

Now i understand why i love lisbeth so much, as a child pipi langkous (as we call her in the netherlands) was really a role model for me.

Posted by Anna in Netherlands ,

Langkous would translate as Long hose, as in Long Stocking, Right?

Posted by Rob in Toronto ,

To Anna in Netherlands. As I saw your comments it crossed my mind that Niedermann could be interpreted as “The man from the Netherlands” thinking in German,

Posted by The Dragon in Salandervillage ,

Langkous translates litterally as longstocking.

Posted by Gwen in Netherlands ,