just now

Emperor of Portugallia cover art

All Episodes - Emperor of Portugallia

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Selma Lagerlöf, born in Värmland, Sweden, in 1858. A celebrated writer and Nobel Prize winner in Literature in 1909, Lagerlöfs masterpiece, The Emperor of Portugallia, first graced readers in Sweden in 1914 and was translated into English by Velma Swanston Howard in 1916. Set in the picturesque Värmland during the 1860s or 1870s, the story revolves around Jan of Ruffluck Croft, a father whose love for his daughter knows no bounds. When she moves to Stockholm and cuts off communication, Jan retreats into a fantastical dream where she reigns as the noble Empress of Portugallia, and he believes himself to be her Emperor. As he dons his royal regalia, he challenges the social hierarchies of his impoverished forest community, claiming a place of honor in church and at gatherings. But after 15 long years, his daughter returns, only to find that her beloved father has transformed into a mad clown... (Summary by Lars Rolander)

View Podcast Details

0 Episodes