Written in the style of a male adventurer's memoir this is an entertaining account of Moominpappas younger days in a foundling house and seeking his fortune elsewhere before settling in Moominvalley. He writes in a comical self-important way and we get some interesting and nonsensical back story. ( )

A little confused about this short book which is one of the Moomin stories that I didn't read as a child - but I think it was subsequently revised and published as Moominpapa's Memoirs? Anyway, I liked it in parts. Moominpapa, having reached the age of 40, and suffering from a cold, writes his memoirs for the edification of his family and friends. During the book, there are asides where we get the reactions of his son Moomintroll and his son's friends to whom he is reading each bit of the story. By the end of the book, a few mysteries are solved.

There are some places where I found it to drag a bit - I didn't find the ghost particularly funny, for example. The ending also makes no sense because why haven't certain characters' parents raised them if they are alive and well? And what happened to Hodgkins who was my favourite of the new characters introduced - I don't recall him being in any of the ones I've read? On the plus side, I loved the illustrations as always. So on balance, I rate this at 3 stars. ( )

3.5 Stars ( )

A humorous prequel in which Moominpappa reads his memoirs to Moomintroll, Snufkin and Sniff, introducing lots of characters who stick around for future adventures.
I particularly liked the Horriblest Ghost, who Jansson skilfully makes both morbidly gruesome and amusingly pompous. 👻
Great fun 😊 ( )

Completely mad, utterly delightful. ( )