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{{Short description|1906 novel by Selma Lagerlöf}}
{{Expand German|topic=cult|Die wunderbare Reise des kleinen Nils Holgersson mit den Wildgänsen|date=January 2010}}
{{About|the book|the anime adaptation|The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (TV series)}}

{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
| title_orig = Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige
| image = File:The The Wonderful Adventures of Nils - cover by Mary Hamilton Frye.jpg
| caption = Cover art by [[Mary Hamilton Frye]] (1936)
| author = [[Selma Lagerlöf]]
| illustrator = 
| country = Sweden
| language = Swedish
| genre = Novella<br />[[Parable]]<br />[[Social criticism]]<br />[[Morality tale]]
| release_date = 
| media_type = Print
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| native_wikisource = Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige
| orig_lang_code = sv
}}

'''''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils''''' ({{langx|sv|Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige}}, literally ''Nils Holgersson's wonderful journey across Sweden'') is a work of fiction by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] writer [[Selma Lagerlöf]], the first woman to receive the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]. It was originally published in two books, 1906 and 1907, and was first published in English as ''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils'' (1907) and ''The Further Adventures of Nils'' (1911). The two parts are later usually published together, in English as ''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils'', but that name may also refer to the first part alone.

Like many leading Swedish intellectuals of her time, Selma Lagerlöf was an advocate of Swedish spelling reform. When first published, this book was also one of the first to adopt the new spelling mandated by a government resolution on April 7, 1906 (see [[Svenska Akademiens Ordlista#History|Svenska Akademiens Ordlista]]).

== Origin ==

The background for publication was a commission from the National Teachers Association in 1902 to write a geography reader for the public schools. "She devoted three years to Nature study and to familiarizing herself with animal and bird life. She has sought out hitherto unpublished folklore and legends of the different [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]]. These she has ingeniously woven into her story." (From translator [[Velma Swanston Howard]]'s introduction.)

==Plot introduction==

The book is about a young lad, Nils Holgersson, whose "chief delight was to eat and sleep, and after that he liked best to make mischief". He takes great delight in hurting the animals on his family farm. Nils captures a ''[[tomte]]'' in a net while his family are at church and have left him home to memorize chapters from the Bible. The tomte proposes to Nils that if Nils frees him, the tomte will give him a huge gold coin. Nils rejects the offer and the tomte turns Nils into a tomte, which leaves him shrunken and able to talk with animals, who are thrilled to see the boy reduced to their size and are angry and hungry for revenge. While this is happening, [[goose|wild geese]] are flying over the farm on one of their migrations, and Martin, the farm's white goose attempts to join the wild ones. In an attempt to salvage something before his family returns, Nils holds on to Martin's neck as he successfully takes off and joins the wild birds.

The wild geese, who are not pleased at all to be joined by a boy and a domestic goose, eventually take them on an adventurous trip across all the [[Provinces of Sweden|historical provinces]] of [[Sweden]], observing in passing their natural characteristics and economic resources. At the same time the characters and situations he encounters make him a man: the domestic goose needs to prove his ability to fly like the experienced wild geese, and Nils needs to prove to the geese that he would be a useful companion, despite their initial misgivings. During the trip, Nils learns that if he proves he has changed for the better, the tomte might be disposed to change him back to his normal size.

The book also includes various subplots, concerning people and animals whose lives are touched in one way or another by Nils and the wild geese. For example, one chapter centers on a provincial man who feels lonely and alienated in the capital [[Stockholm]], is befriended by a nice old gentleman who tells him (and the reader) about the city's history - and only later finds that it was none other than the [[King of Sweden]], walking incognito in the park.

The book was criticized for the fact that the goose and boy don't make any stop in the province [[Halland]]. In chapter 53 they fly over Halland on the way back to Scania, but they aren't impressed by the sight and they don't stop. However, such a chapter has been added to some translations of the book. In depictions Nils is usually wearing a red cap, although this is erroneous as he is described in the original Swedish edition as wearing a white cap.<ref>''Chapter IX. Karlskrona''</ref>

==Chapters and itinerary==
This section follows the English-language translation by Velma Swanston Howard, originally published in 1907 and 1911 as ''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils'' and ''Further Adventures of Nils''. The Howard text is that of many later publications that contain the original illustrations, new illustrations, or none at all.

===The Wonderful Adventures of Nils===
Howard's first volume contains 21 chapters. Swedish-language chapter titles listed here are identical to those of the 21 chapters in the original volume one (1906).<ref name=SV1>The novel article [[:sv:Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige|"''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige''"]] at Swedish Wikipedia cites ''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige. Första bandet.'' (1907), chapter by chapter as pp. 9–237. Retrieved 2019-09-30.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Chapter
! Title
! Places
! [[Provinces of Sweden|Historical provinces]]
|-
|1
|''The Boy'' ("Pojken")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Boy|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/n27/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=3–23}}</ref>

|[[Västra Vemmenhög]], around seven kilometres south (and today part) of [[Skurup]]
|[[Scania]]
|-
|2
|''Akka from Kebnekaise'' ("Akka från Kebnekajse")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Akka from Kebnekaise|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/24/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=24–44}}</ref>
|[[Vombsjön]]
|Scania
|-
|3
|''The Wonderful Journey of Nils'' ("Vildfågelsliv")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Wonderful Journey of Nils|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/44/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=45–68}}</ref>
|[[Vittskövle Castle]], [[Övedskloster Manor]]
|Scania
|-
|4
|''Glimminge Castle'' ("Glimmingehus")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Glimminge Castle|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/69/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=69–84}}</ref>
|[[Glimmingehus]]
|Scania
|-
|5
|''The Great Crane Dance on Kullaberg'' ("Den stora trandansen på Kullaberget")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Great Crane Dance on Kullaberg|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/84/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=85–96}}</ref>
|[[Kullaberg]]
|Scania
|-
|6
|''In Rainy Weather'' ("I regnväder")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=In Rainy Weather|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/96/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=97–104}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|[[Blekinge]]
|-
|7
|''The Staircase with the Three Steps'' ("Trappan med de tre trappstegen")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Staircase with the Three Steps|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/104/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=105–109}}</ref>
|[[Blekinge archipelago]]
|Blekinge
|-
|8
|''By Ronneby River'' ("Vid Ronneby Å")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=By Ronneby River|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/110/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=110–121}}</ref>
|[[Ronneby]]
|Blekinge
|-
|9
|''Karlskrona'' ("Karlskrona")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Karlskrona|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/122/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=122–132}}</ref>
|[[Karlskrona]]
|Blekinge
|-
|10
|''The Trip to Öland'' ("Resa till Öland")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Trip to Öland|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/133/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=133–138}}</ref>
|[[Kalmar Strait]]
|between [[Öland]] and [[Småland]]
|-
|11
|''Öland's Southern Point'' ("Ölands södra udde")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Öland's Southern Point|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/139/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=139–148}}</ref>
|Southern tip of Öland, [[Ottenby]]
|[[Öland]]
|-
|12
|''The Big Butterfly'' ("Den stora fjärilen")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Big Butterfly|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/149/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=149–153}}</ref>
|Öland, [[Stora Alvaret]]
|Öland
|-
|13
|''Little Karl's Island'' ("Lilla Karlsö")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Little Karl's Island|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/154/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=154–168}}</ref>
|[[Lilla Karlsö]]
|[[Gotland]]
|-
|14
|''Two Cities'' ("Två städer")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Two Cities|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/169/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=169–183}}</ref>
|[[Vineta]], [[Visby]]
|Gotland, [[Pomerania]]
|-
|15
|''The Legend of Småland'' ("Sagan om Småland")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Legend of Småland|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/184/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=184–190}}</ref>
|[[Tjust]]
|[[Småland]]
|-
|16
|''The Crows'' ("Kråkorna")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Crows|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/191/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=191–212}}</ref>
|[[Sunnerbo härad]]
|Småland
|-
|17
|''The Old Peasant Woman'' ("Den gamla bondkvinnan")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Old Peasant Woman|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/213/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=213–225}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|Småland
|-
|18
|''From Taberg to Huskvarna'' ("Från Taberg till Huskvarna")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=From Taberg to Huskvarna|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/226/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=226–230}}</ref>
|[[Taberg]], [[Jönköping]], [[Huskvarna]]
|Småland
|-
|19
|''The Big Bird Lake'' ("Den stora fågelsjön")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=The Big Bird Lake|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/231/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=231–249}}</ref>
|[[Tåkern]], [[Omberg]]
|[[Östergötland]]
|-
|20
|''Ulvåsa-Lady'' ("Spådomen")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Ulvåsa-Lady|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/250/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=250–256}}</ref>
|[[Tåkern]], [[Omberg]], [[Vadstena Abbey]], [[Motala]], [[Finspång]], [[Norrköping]]
|Östergötland
|-
|21
|''Vadmalsvåden'' ("The Homespun Cloth")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1936|chapter=Ulvåsa-Lady|title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/wonderfuladventu0018582#page/257/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Doran & Company|pages=257–261}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|Östergötland
|}

===Further Adventures of Nils===

Howard's second volume contains 22 chapters numbered 1 to 22, where the original volume two (1907) contains 34 chapters numbered 22 to 55. Swedish-language chapter titles listed here are identical to those of 22 among the 34 original chapters. Chapter titles 6 to 18 match original chapter titles 36 to 48.<ref name=SV2>[[:sv:Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige|"''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige''"]] at Swedish Wikipedia cites ''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige. Andra bandet.'' (1907), chapter by chapter as pp. 1–486. Retrieved 2019-09-30.</ref>

Howard cut some chapters entirely and abridged others. Some provinces are not featured in the Howard translation, including [[Dalarna]], which is visited in four original chapters (29 to 32).<ref name=SV2/>

{| class="wikitable"
! Chapter
! Title
! Places
! [[Provinces of Sweden|Historical provinces]]
|-
|1
|''The Story of Karr and Grayskin'' ("Karrs och Gråfälls saga")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1922|chapter=The Story of Karr and Grayskin|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/n15/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=3–49}}</ref>
|[[Kolmården]]
|Östergötland, [[Södermanland]]
|-
|2
|''The Wind Witch'' ("I Närke")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1922|chapter=The Wind Witch|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/50/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=50–71}}</ref>
|[[Örebro]]
|[[Närke]]
|-
|3
|''The Breaking Up Of The Ice'' ("Islossningen")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma |date=1922|chapter=The Breaking Up Of The Ice|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/72/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=72–78}}</ref>
|[[Hjälmaren]]
|Närke
|-
|4
|''Thumbietot and the Bears'' ("Järnverket")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Thumbietot and the Bears|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/79/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=79–100}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|[[Västmanland]]
|-
|5
|''The Flood'' ("Översvämmningen")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=The Flood|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/101/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=101–115}}</ref>
|[[Mälaren]]
|[[Uppland]]
|-
|6
|''Dunfin'' ("Dunfin")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter= Dunfin|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/116/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=116–132}}</ref>
|[[Mälaren]], [[Stockholm archipelago]]
|Uppland
|-
|7
|''Stockholm'' ("Stockholm")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter= Stockholm|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/133/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=133–153}}</ref>
|[[Stockholm]], [[Skansen]]
|Uppland
|-
|8
|''Gorgo, the Eagle'' ("Gorgo, örnen")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Gorgo, the Eagle|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/154/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=154–170}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|-
|9
|''On Over Gästrikland'' ("Fram över Gästrikland")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=On Over Gästrikland|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/171/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=171–180}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|[[Gästrikland]]
|-
|10
|''A Day in Hälsingland'' ("En dag i Hälsingland")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=A Day in Hälsingland|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/181/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=181–200}}</ref>
|[[Delsbo]]
|[[Hälsingland]]
|-
|11
|''In Medelpad'' ("I Medelpad")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=In Medelpad|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/201/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=201–209}}</ref>
|[[Sundsvall]], [[Alnön]] island
|[[Medelpad]]
|-
|12
|''A Morning in Ångermanland'' ("En morgon i Ångermanland")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=A Morning in Ångermanland|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/210/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=210–220}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|[[Ångermanland]]
|-
|13
|''Westbottom and Lapland'' ("Västerbotten och Lappland")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Westbottom and Lapland|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/221/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=221–240}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|[[Västerbotten]], [[Lapland (Sweden)]]
|-
|14
|''Osa, the Goose Girl, and Little Mats'' ("Åsa gåsapiga och lille Mats")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Osa, the Goose Girl, and Little Mats|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/241/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=241–252}}</ref>
|[[Malmberget]]
|Lapland
|-
|15
|''With the Laplanders'' ("Hos lapparna")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=With the Laplanders|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/253/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=253–266}}</ref>
|[[Kiruna Municipality]]
|Lapland, [[Sápmi]]
|-
|16
|''Homeward Bound'' ("Mot söder! Mot söder!")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Homeward Bound|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/267/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=267–272}}</ref>
|[[Östersund]]
|[[Jämtland]]
|-
|17
|''Legends from Härjedalen'' ("Sägner från Härjedalen")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Legends from Härjedalen|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/273/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=273–287}}</ref>
|[[Sonfjället National Park]]
|[[Härjedalen]]
|-
|18
|''Vermland and Dalsland'' ("Värmland och Dalsland")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Vermland and Dalsland|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/288/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=288–304}}</ref>
|[[Klarälven]], [[Fryken]]
|[[Värmland]], [[Dalsland]]
|-
|19
|''The Treasure on the Island'' ("Skatten på skäret")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=The Treasure on the Island|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/305/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=305–315}}</ref>
|[[Fjällbacka]], [[Väderöarna]]
|[[Bohuslän]]
|-
|20
|''The Journey to Vemmenhög'' ("Resa till Vemmenhög")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=The Journey to Vemmenhög|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/316/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=316–319}}</ref>
|[[Falköping]], [[Bosjökloster]], [[Ringsjön]]
|[[Halland]], Scania
|-
|21
|''Home at Last'' ("Hos Holger Nilssons")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=Home at Last|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/320/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=320–335}}</ref>
|&nbsp;
|Scania
|-
|22
|''The Parting with the Wild Geese'' ("Avsked från vildgässen")<ref>{{cite book|last=Lagerlöf|first=Selma|translator-last1=Swanston Howard|translator-first1= Velma|date=1922|chapter=The Parting with the Wild Geese|title=Further Adventures of Nils|language= en|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/furtheradventure00lage/page/336/mode/2up|location=Garden City, New York|publisher=Doubleday, Page & Company|pages=336–339}}</ref>
|[[Smygehuk]]
|Scania
|}

==Print editions==
* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, Illustrated by [[Harold Heartt Foley]]. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1907.
* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, translated by Velma Swanston Howard. Illustrated by [[Mary Hamilton Frye]]. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1913. 
* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, Illustrated by H. Baumhauer. J.M. Dent and Sons, 1950.

==Film adaptations==

===1955 Soviet animation===
{{Main|The Enchanted Boy}}
A Soviet [[traditional animation|traditionally animated]] feature film called ''The Enchanted Boy'' ({{langx|ru|Заколдо́ванный ма́льчик}}, ''Zakoldovannyy Malchik'') was released in 1955.  It was directed by [[Vladimir Polkovnikov]] and [[Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya]] and produced at the [[Soyuzmultfilm]] studio in [[Moscow]].

===1962 Swedish live action===
''[[Adventures of Nils Holgersson]]'' (''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa'') was released in 1962. It was shot primarily from helicopters, simplifying and downplaying the drama of the plot. It was directed by [[Kenne Fant]].

===1980 Japanese animation===
{{Main|The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (TV series)}}
An [[anime]] adaptation (ニルスのふしぎな旅 ''Nirusu no Fushigi na Tabi'') consisting of fifty-two 25-minute episodes was broadcast on [[NHK]] from January 8, 1980—March 17, 1981. The anime was also broadcast:
* Albania
* in the [[Arab World]] (as "مغامرات نيلز" ''Nils' Adventures'')
* Belgium <!--- Needs clarification if dubbed into French, Dutch or both. --->
* Canada (in French)
* (Mainland) China
* Czech Republic (as "Nils Holgersson")
* Finland (as "Peukaloisen retket", not dubbed in Finnish but simply narrated over the German dub, also released in DVD)
* France
* Germany
* Greece (as "Το θαυμαστό ταξίδι του Νίλς Χόλγκερσον" - "The wondrous journey of Nils Holgersson")
* Hong Kong (dubbed into Cantonese)
* Hungary (as "Nils Holgersson csodálatos utazása a vadludakkal" - "The Wonderful Journey of Nils Holgersson with the Wild Geese")
* Iceland (as "Nilli Hólmgeirsson")
* Iran
* Israel (as "נילס הולגרסון")
* Italy
* The Netherlands
* Poland (as "Nils and the wild geese")
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovenia (as "Nils Holgerson" with one s)
* South Africa (Translated to Afrikaans as "Nils Holgerson")
* Spain
* Sweden
* Turkey (as "Uçan Kaz" ("The Flying Goose"))

In some countries it was cut to allow for commercials. The anime was the very first production by [[Pierrot (company)|Studio Pierrot]] ([[Mamoru Oshii]] was a director on the series). The anime was mostly fairly true to the original, apart from the appearance of Nils' pet hamster, and the greater role allowed to the [[red fox|fox]] Smirre.

In Germany, the animated series episodes were also combined into one full feature animated movie (~ 1h 22min in length) in 1981; the same release has also been dubbed and released in [[Estonia]] on DVD & VHS and in Greece on DVD. In Germany, the anime was also adapted into a [[comic book]] series, with the drawings made by the Spanish Studio Interpubli, and the German Atelier Roche.

===2011 Swedish/German two-parter===

German TV broadcaster [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] premiered a live-action two-part adaptation starring Justus Kammerer as Nils and directed by [[Dirk Regel]] on Christmas 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125222/|title = Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref> Its total running time is 230 minutes. This version uses a mix of real animals, puppets, and CGI for the geese and other animals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/0,1518,805578,00.html|title = "Nils Holgersson" in der ARD: Gans oder gar nicht|newspaper = Der Spiegel|date = 24 December 2011|last1 = Festenberg|first1 = Nikolaus von}}</ref>

=== 2017 French Studio 100 3D CGI Adaptation ===
In 2017, a 3D CGI-based TV Series adaptation was released by French [[Studio 100 Animation]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141111223719/http://www.studio100animation.net/series/nils Nils]}}, Studio100animation.net</ref> The release consists of 52 episodes, 13 minutes each.

==Israeli version==

In the 1960s the Israeli children's weekly "Etzbe'oni" (אצבעוני) ran a long lasting Hebrew comic strip version, loosely based on the Swedish original, where the protagonist's name was changed to "Gil" (גיל) and the location was transferred to the Israeli countryside.<ref>March 30, 2017 online Hebrew review by Hadar Ben Yehuda, including many of the Israeli version's drawings [https://blog.nli.org.il/%D7%9E%D7%9E%D7%98%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93-%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%A2-%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%9F/]</ref>

==Swedish culture==
''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils'' is so well known in Swedish
culture that a picture of Nils Holgersson, on the back of a goose flying over the plains of [[Skåne|Scania]], was printed on the reverse side of the Swedish 20 [[Swedish krona|krona]] banknote until new bills came in use in 2015.<ref>[https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note202670.html Swedish 20] [[Swedish krona|krona]]<span> banknote</span>.</ref>

Nils is also depicted in the logo of the digital map company [[Tele Atlas]].

The sights Nils sees as he and his goose roam the provinces of Sweden are depicted in a series of Christmas plates produced by [[Rörstrand]] Pottery.  The series began in 1970 and continued until 1999. The plates illustrate the topography, architecture, industry, and wildlife of Sweden.

==Influence on later fantasy==

[[Lev Grossman]]'s fantasy novel ''[[The Magicians (Grossman novel)|The Magicians]]'' includes numerous allusions to earlier works such as The ''[[Narnia]]'' Series and the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books.  The influence of ''Nils Holgersson'' is evident{{fact|date=March 2023}} in a key episode where a class of students nearing graduation from a School of Magic are set a major test: to be transformed into wild geese and undertake an epic flight, all the way from Upper New York State to Antarctica.

==See also==
{{Portal|Children's literature|Novels}}
*''[[Le Tour de la France par deux enfants]]''
*[[Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century|''Le Monde''{{'s}} 100 Books of the Century]]
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANils_Holgersson_-_Rorstrand_-_Gunnar_Nylund.pdf List of ornamental plates]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Nils Holgersson's Journey Across Sweden}}
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/selma-lagerlof/the-wonderful-adventures-of-nils/velma-swanston-howard}}
* {{Gutenberg | no=10935 | name=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils}} (plain text and HTML) (Book 1&2)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060156/http://www.sna.se/Holgersson_100ar_commission.html Background to the commission to write The Wonderful Adventures of Nils], from The National Atlas of Sweden
*[https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22adventures%20of%20Nils%22%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts ''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils''], at [[Internet Archive]] (scanned books original editions color illustrated) (Book 1&2)
*{{librivox book |title=The Wonderful Adventures of Nils |author=Selma Lagerlöf}}
*[https://runeberg.org/nilsholg/ ''Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige''] {{in lang|sv}} available freely at [[Project Runeberg]]

{{Selma Lagerlöf}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wonderful Adventures of Nils, The}}
[[Category:1900s Swedish novels]]
[[Category:1906 in Sweden]]
[[Category:1906 novels]]
[[Category:1906 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Swedish children's novels]]
[[Category:Swedish novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Fiction about size change]]
[[Category:Novels by Selma Lagerlöf]]
[[Category:Swedish-language novels]]
[[Category:Swedish speculative fiction works|m]]
[[Category:Novels set in Sweden]]
[[Category:Children's novels about animals]]
[[Category:1906 children's books]]
[[Category:Swedish fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Children's books set in Sweden]]
[[Category:Works about geese]]