Karl Anders Nilson, known as Andy, is a lonely boy. An orphan, he lives in Stockholm with his foster parents, Aunt Hulda who wanted a boy and Uncle Olaf who thinks Andy makes too much noise. His only friend is Ben, but they sometimes fight. The only person who is kind to him is Mrs Lundy from the sweet shop. But then one day Aunt Hulda, after telling Andy yet again that the day he came to their house was an unlucky one, is given a card to post by Mrs Lundy and an apple that turns to gold. The card is to the King of Farawayland. Sitting in Tegnerlunden Park watching Ben eat with his loving parents through their lighted window he cries, but on the ground is a bottle and in the bottle is a genie. For release from the bottle he grants Andy one wish, and he wishes to go to Farawayland.
A magical adventure of lost princes, love, friendship, courage, a white horse named Miramis, a bridge called Morninglight and a terrible foe, Sir Kato, begins. Andy learns the truth of his birth and finds both happiness and a strength he never new he had.
Simply one of the most beautiful enchanting stories I have ever read. I read this aloud over several days and nights to my 9 year old and enjoyed every moment. Written in mesmeric prose, in less skillful hands this would have been just a good story to tell a younger child, but Lindgren makes it magical, mythic and unsentimental.
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