Letters From Tove By Tove Jansson

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Across The Decades

20191216

20240212 (BBC7)
20240213 (BBC7)

Spanning 50 years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist.

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.

The letters of Moomin creator Tove Jansson to her family, her confidantes and her lovers.

The revealing letters of Moomin creator Tove Jansson to her family, her confidantes and her lovers. Read by Sarah Lambie.

Italy

20191217

20240213 (BBC7)
20240214 (BBC7)

In spring 1939 Tove Jansson leaves for Italy.

She feels the lure of Renaissance art, but war is on its way so there is no time to lose. She travels via Berlin and Munich to Verona.

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.

In spring 1939, Tove Jansson leaves for Italy and feels the lure of Renaissance art.

In spring 1939, Tove Jansson leaves for Italy and feels the lure of Renaissance art. But war looms. Read by Sarah Lambie.

Eve

20191218

20240214 (BBC7)
20240215 (BBC7)

“You're right, I'm your best friend – I always will be, ? writes Tove Jansson to Eva Konikoff in 1947.

It is over six years since Eva moved to the USA but their friendship endures.

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.

Eva Konikoff has moved to the US, but Tove remains her best friend for 25 years.

Eva Konikoff has moved to the USA, but Tove Jansson remains her best friend for 25 years. Read by Sarah Lambie.

Atos

20191219

20240215 (BBC7)
20240216 (BBC7)

Tove Jansson decribes Atos Wirtanen, author, politician, journalist and newspaper editor, in 1944. They have been a couple for over a year.

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.

Tove Jansson has been in a relationship with Atos Wirtanen for over a year.

Tove has been in a relationship with politician and newspaper editor Atos Wirtanen for over a year. Read by Sarah Lambie.

20191220

20240216 (BBC7)
20240217 (BBC7)

Into these, she spilled her innermost thoughts, defended her ideals and revealed her heart. To read these letters is both an act of startling intimacy and a rare privilege.

Penned with grace and humour, Letters from Tove offers an almost seamless commentary on Tove Jansson's life as it unfolds within Helsinki's bohemian circles and her island home. Spanning fifty years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist.

Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death

Meeting engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietil\u00e4 is a turning point in Tove Jansson's life.

Meeting engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietilä proves a turning point in Tove Jansson's life. 'I feel like a garden that's finally been watered, so my flowers can bloom.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Across The Decades	20191216	20240212 (BBC7) 20240213 (BBC7)	Spanning 50 years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist. Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death. Producer: Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019. The letters of Moomin creator Tove Jansson to her family, her confidantes and her lovers. The revealing letters of Moomin creator Tove Jansson to her family, her confidantes and her lovers. Read by Sarah Lambie.
02	Italy	20191217	20240213 (BBC7) 20240214 (BBC7)	In spring 1939 Tove Jansson leaves for Italy. She feels the lure of Renaissance art, but war is on its way so there is no time to lose. She travels via Berlin and Munich to Verona. Spanning 50 years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist. Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death. Producer: Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019. In spring 1939, Tove Jansson leaves for Italy and feels the lure of Renaissance art. In spring 1939, Tove Jansson leaves for Italy and feels the lure of Renaissance art. But war looms. Read by Sarah Lambie.
03	Eve	20191218	20240214 (BBC7) 20240215 (BBC7)	“You're right, I'm your best friend – I always will be, ? writes Tove Jansson to Eva Konikoff in 1947. It is over six years since Eva moved to the USA but their friendship endures. Spanning 50 years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist. Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death. Producer: Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019. Eva Konikoff has moved to the US, but Tove remains her best friend for 25 years. Eva Konikoff has moved to the USA, but Tove Jansson remains her best friend for 25 years. Read by Sarah Lambie.
04	Atos	20191219	20240215 (BBC7) 20240216 (BBC7)	Tove Jansson decribes Atos Wirtanen, author, politician, journalist and newspaper editor, in 1944. They have been a couple for over a year. Spanning 50 years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist. Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death. Producer: Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019. Tove Jansson has been in a relationship with Atos Wirtanen for over a year. Tove has been in a relationship with politician and newspaper editor Atos Wirtanen for over a year. Read by Sarah Lambie.
05		20191220	20240216 (BBC7) 20240217 (BBC7)	Into these, she spilled her innermost thoughts, defended her ideals and revealed her heart. To read these letters is both an act of startling intimacy and a rare privilege. Penned with grace and humour, Letters from Tove offers an almost seamless commentary on Tove Jansson's life as it unfolds within Helsinki's bohemian circles and her island home. Spanning fifty years between her art studies and the height of Moomin fame, we hear the bleakness of war, the hopes for love that were dashed and renewed, and her determined attempts to establish herself as an artist. Translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death Meeting engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietil\u00e4 is a turning point in Tove Jansson's life. Meeting engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietilä proves a turning point in Tove Jansson's life. 'I feel like a garden that's finally been watered, so my flowers can bloom.