When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town is a 1955 Norwegian children's book written and illustrated by Thorbjørn Egner, which tells the story of Kardemomme by. It is considered as one of the most important Norwegian children's books. The book includes many songs which are connected to the story. The story is well adapted for playing as a theatre act with musical elements.
Plot summary
The book is about the peaceful town of Kardemomme and the people there, as well as the only characters which stir up serious trouble. They are the three robbers, Casper, Jasper and Jonathan who live outside the town and regularly enter to steal the things they need. The robbers get arrested and are treated well in jail. In the end, they get reformed, and in the final chapter, they become the heroes of the day when they extinguish a fire in the tower of the town. Finally, Casper becomes the town's fireman, Jasper becomes the town's circus manager and Jonathan becomes the baker along with the previous one.
Characters
Main characters
The Robbers - loud, prone to quarreling with each other, and live very cluttered. They live in a strange house, with a lion to protect them.
Constable Bastian - the cheerful policeman who is concerned in making sure that everyone is happy.
Aunt Sophie - a middle-aged woman who is the aunt of Camomilla. Sophie is extremely strict, and the only song she sings is "Aunt Sophie's angry song", where she expresses dismay over the horrid state of affairs in the town, and disdain for a number of the people. Regarding Bastian, she sings. However, Sophie is also a sympathetic character, well ordered and capable of giving some sympathy to those who deserve it.
Tobias - he is the old wise man in the tower with a long beard. His job is to give the town its weather forecast from the balcony of the tower in which he lives.
Minor characters
Kamomilla - Aunt Sophie's young niece. She likes to play the piano.
Tommy - The young son of the town orchestra's Horn player.
The music, Kardemommeviser, was released to EP in 1955 and to LP in 1975.
Theme park
The setting of Kardemomme by was made into part of a theme park in Kristiansand Zoo in 1991. Thorbjørn Egner lived to see the theme park under construction, but not to see it completed.
Law
Law of Cardamom is the only law in Cardamom Town. The law is simple and liberal:
Songs
Politimester Bastian's vise
Visen om været
Trikken i Kardemomme
Røvervise
Lille Kamomilla spiller
Kardemommesangen
Den talende kamel
Tante Sofies sinte vise
Røverfangevise
Røvernes letevise
Røvernes vise om Tante Sofie
Sofies sinte vise i røverhuset
Røvernes vaskevise
Glade røvere
Hestedans
Papegøyen fra Amerika
Hurrasang for Tobias
Fru Bastians vise
Røvernes vaskevise i fengslet
Barbermestervise
Hurrasang for røverne
Some of the songs from the book/play were issued on the EP albumKardemommeviser in 1955. The 1975 album Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by was awarded the Spellemann award.
Film adaptation
The book was made into a film in 1988, directed by Bente Erichsen.
