Book Description

I have written this rollicking adventure book for older children and young adults in which the main characters travel through time and space. The journey began over thirty years ago in the sauna. My youngest son, then aged five or six, was not very keen on this Nordic recreation. I told him stories to divert his attention. He was soon an avid fan of the bath, not because of the steam and the heat, but because of the stories I was dreaming up. I wondered for many years whether I should gather the stories into a book. In 2018, I took the plunge and started writing. It turned out to be a stimulating and engaging pastime – conflating fact and fantasy, mixing past and future, contrasting good and evil and offering morsels of moral, religious and political thought without trying to be an ethical compass. The book was published in Swedish in 2022 and has met with great success. This encouraged me to go further. The work has now been revised, beautifully illustrated and translated into English. Perhaps I am Baron von Münchausen's reincarnation! Enjoy the book and judge for yourself! Bernardino Schwimmeltrik Meet Our Main Characters ÖffliBöffli, Pelle Pistol and Kalle Kanon are animals, but they have human characteristics and co-mingle on equal footing with people. ÖffliBöffli is a cheerful, optimistic young pig. He is thirsty for knowledge. He spent six years in the village school in Swineburn, Sweden, where he was born. Even though he learned to read and write, it was not a very good school. His thirst had to be quenched elsewhere. He devoured every book in the school library and many of those from the library in the nearest big town. He soon had a smattering of mathematics, physics, history, geography, anatomy and a host of other subjects. When he was older, he supplemented his learning by attending night school. However, he realised that his knowledge was superficial. He had hoped to go to university, but the family’s finances did not allow that. ÖffliBöffli is a shy fellow. He is not very tall nor is he physically strong but what he lacks in muscle he is well compensated for by his knowledge. He can contribute to any conversation with snippets of information on a host of subjects. Pelle Pistol is a black and white cat. He had been Master-at-Arms to the King of France. He is always elegantly dressed in an immaculate red uniform with a wide white collar. On his head, he sports a broad-brimmed hat with an ostrich feather which quivers in the breeze. A pair of flintlock pistols nestle in their holsters at his hip. The pistol on the left is accompanied by a slim rapier. He has a fine, lush moustache which he preens constantly. He is fashion-conscious and somewhat vain. He enjoys fine wine and gourmet food. He would rather laze in the sun than work. But he is brave and is an excellent marksman. Kalle Kanon is a tough, sturdy bulldog with a stern demeanour and a heart of gold. He had been Master of artillery in the army of the French King where he and Pelle Pistol met. They have been friends through thick and thin ever since. Kalle Kanon is enormously strong, devoid of fear and inordinately courageous. He compensates for what he lacks in intellect with practicality and pragmatism. He is always ready for action, a good meal and a pint or two of ale. He is short-tempered and quick with his fists. He is no conversationalist. His remarks are gruff, curt and to the point. No idle chatter. No banal banter. Only the task is important. And he always gets the job done. Their adventures bind these three diverse personalities together in mutual love, respect and loyalty. They support each other through hell and high water. They become closer than brothers.