Kati (book series) facts for kids

Kati is a fun book series from Sweden, written by the famous author Astrid Lindgren. It's all about a young woman named Kati and her exciting trips. First, she goes to America, then to Italy, and finally to Paris! These books have been translated into many languages, like English, German, and French.

Main Characters

Kati

Kati is 21 years old and works as a typist in an office in Stockholm, Sweden. She lost her parents when she was very young. After that, she moved in with her Aunt Wilhelmina. Kati is a curious and adventurous young woman.

Eva

Eva is Kati's best friend. She moves to Stockholm from a town called Aamaal when she is 20. Eva works with Kati in the same office. Later, when she is 22, Eva travels with Kati to Italy and Paris. Eva has blond hair and loves to talk. She is very quick-witted and full of energy.

Aunt Wilhelmina

Kati grew up with her Aunt Wilhelmina. Their relationship is a bit complicated. Kati loves her aunt very much. But she also wants to be independent. Aunt Wilhelmina still sees Kati as a small, helpless child. She tries to organize everything for Kati, even though Kati is grown up. Aunt Wilhelmina seems strict at first. However, she is actually very kind. She promised Kati's mother to take care of Kati. When Kati wants to go to America, Wilhelmina insists on going with her. Later, Wilhelmina stays in America to marry Andrew. She still helps Kati, even sending money for Kati's trip to Italy.

Jan

Jan is a young architect who doesn't have much money. He starts dating Kati when she is 19. Jan tells Kati about his trips to America. This makes Kati want to travel there too. Jan loves Kati, but Kati isn't sure how she feels about him.

Lennart Sundman

Lennart grew up in Sweden. His father passed away when Lennart was young. Lennart becomes a lawyer and moves to Stockholm. He meets Kati in Italy and falls in love with her. Lennart is described as smart, calm, and kind. He laughs a lot but also has a thoughtful side.

Peter Björkman

Peter is a wealthy businessman from Sweden. He sells printing presses. Peter is tall and a very good dancer. He decides he doesn't want to marry anyone. But then he meets Eva, and his mind starts to change.

Andrew

Andrew is an old friend of Aunt Wilhelmina from her childhood. They meet again in America. Andrew asks Wilhelmina to marry him. Wilhelmina decides to stay in America with him.

Story Overview

The first book, Kati in America, takes place in 1945. At that time, racial segregation was still a big issue in America. This means people were separated based on their skin color. The book talks about this. In Kati in Italy, Kati is one year older. Kati in Paris starts seven months after the events in Italy.

Kati in America

Kati's friend Jan tells her exciting stories about his trip to the USA. Kati gets very excited and wants to go there herself. She tells her Aunt Wilhelmina about her plan. Wilhelmina doesn't want Kati to travel alone. So, she decides to go with her.

In New York, Kati meets Mr. Bates. He needs someone to cook for his guests. Wilhelmina helps him out. Through Mr. Bates's daughter, Marion, Kati meets Bob. Kati and Bob travel through America together. Wilhelmina doesn't like Bob much, but she still joins the road trip.

Kati is shocked by how black people are treated in America. They have separate seating on buses. They live in poorer areas. They have less access to jobs and schools. They are not allowed in restaurants or concerts meant for white people. Some of Kati's new friends believe that white people should be in charge. They don't even want to shake hands with a black person. Kati tries to support black people, but it is very difficult.

After Kati meets Bob's family, she and Bob go their separate ways. Wilhelmina is happy Bob is gone. Kati misses him at first. But then she enjoys her trips to the Mississippi River and New Orleans. There, she meets a guide named John Hammond. They have a nice evening together.

In Chicago, Kati and Wilhelmina meet Kati's Uncle Elof. He moved to America when he was 22. Elof invites Kati and Wilhelmina to his home. There, Wilhelmina meets Andrew, an old childhood friend. They fall in love and decide to get married. Wilhelmina stays in America. In New York, Kati sees Bob one last time. Then she heads home to Sweden. Jan waits for Kati at the airport in Sweden.

Kati in Italy

Jan wants to marry Kati. But Kati has doubts. She feels like Jan always tries to change her. If she is funny, he thinks she is silly. But she also can't be too serious. She asks Jan for one year to decide if she wants to marry him. When Jan agrees, she asks her best friend Eva to move in with her.

Kati and Eva win 3,000 crowns, which is a lot of money! They decide to travel to Italy. Jan doesn't like this idea. He is worried Kati might fall for an Italian man. But Kati and Eva plan to leave anyway. In Italy, they have many adventures. In Venice, Kati meets Lennart Sundman from Stockholm. She is immediately interested in the handsome man. They enjoy a beautiful gondola ride. However, they lose each other in the crowd and can't find each other again.

Kati thinks she has lost Lennart forever. Still, she believes he is her true love. She writes a letter to Jan and breaks up with him. Kati and Eva travel to Florence. Kati is looking at engagement rings in a jewelry store. Suddenly, she meets Lennart again! They spend a lot of time together. Kati is sure about her feelings for Lennart. But she wonders what Lennart thinks about her. In Rome, Lennart doesn't call as he promised. Instead, Kati gets a kind letter from Jan. He says he hopes Kati has found someone who will make her happier. He hopes she will remember their time together fondly. Kati does, but she still misses Lennart.

One night, Eva doesn't want to go out because of a headache. So Kati spends the evening with another traveler. In a restaurant, she sees Eva and Lennart sitting and laughing together. Kati is shocked and very disappointed. She runs out of the restaurant. The next day, Kati and Eva drive to Naples. Kati tells Eva what she saw. Eva explains that Lennart called when Kati was gone. Eva didn't want him to leave because of Kati. She met with him and convinced him to change his travel plans.

Suddenly, Lennart appears in front of Kati. Kati and Lennart spend a wonderful time together. To Kati's surprise, Lennart asks her to marry him. He bought her the engagement rings she was looking at in Florence. Kati says yes!

Kati in Paris

Seven months after Lennart's marriage proposal, Kati and Lennart travel to Paris to get married. They get married in a small chapel. After their wedding, Eva, Lennart, and Kati explore Paris together.

At a café, they meet Peter Björkman, a rich businessman from Sweden. Peter is interested in Eva. However, Eva prefers to spend time with Henri Bertrand. He is a student staying in the next room at their hotel. At a dinner, Eva and Peter talk about not wanting to get married. Eva talks about Henri. Peter says he likes Eva now, but that it might not last. Later that evening, Eva dances with Peter and is amazed by his dancing. But she often ignores him to be with Henri.

Back in Stockholm, Lennart and Kati move into a new apartment. It is right across from Eva's apartment. Eva cries when she returns to her apartment alone, without Kati. But Kati and Lennart often invite her over. Peter also visits his friends. He tells Kati that he is still in love with Eva. He says she brings excitement and change to his life. He even wants to marry Eva.

Meanwhile, Lennart and Kati have their first big argument. Just as they start to get along better, Kati suddenly meets Jan in the city. They have coffee together. Jan shows Kati his engagement ring. When Lennart finds out about the meeting, he leaves the apartment angrily. Later, the couple decides to make up.

Soon after, Peter tells Eva he loves her. But Eva says no. Peter decides not to visit Lennart and Kati anymore. He doesn't want to keep seeing Eva there.

A few months later, Kati becomes pregnant. She gets ready for the baby's birth. Meanwhile, Eva has changed. She cries a lot and often stays alone in her apartment. Peter starts visiting Kati and Lennart again. He says he missed them. Shortly after he arrives, Eva also comes to the apartment. When she sees Peter there, she looks very pale. Eva admits that she might be in love with Peter. They decide to try being together. Soon after this, Kati gives birth to her first son.

Background and Inspiration

In 1949, a publisher asked Astrid Lindgren to write travel stories. These stories were for a magazine called Damernas värld. After Lindgren wrote the series, the publisher realized they should also be published as books. The stories were first meant for adults. But they were changed into three "girl novels." The Swedish books were published in 1950 (Kati i Amerika), 1952 (Kati på Kaptensgatan), and 1953 (Kati i Paris). The main story stayed the same. However, some small changes were made. For example, a part about Catholic customs was removed from the girl's books. Some parts about Kati and her aunt were also changed. Some details about places in southern France were also removed.

The books were illustrated by Margit Uppenberg (using the name Gobi) for the first two books. Maivor Persson Malm illustrated Kati i Paris.

Kati in America is based on Astrid Lindgren's own experiences. During a trip to New Orleans, Lindgren saw a lot of racism. White people did not want to shake hands with black people. A white taxi driver said something very hurtful about black people. Astrid Lindgren was very shocked by this. Her character, Kati, experiences similar things in the book. Astrid Lindgren also used other personal experiences in her books. For example, Kati locks herself out of her apartment with potatoes cooking on the stove. She climbs up the outside of the building to get back in through a window. Lindgren had a similar experience herself! For Kati in Italy and Kati in Paris, she used experiences from traveling with her husband to Italy and France.

Astrid Lindgren once wrote to a reader. She explained that she didn't feel like Kati when she was 19 or 20. At that age, Lindgren found life difficult. She only later felt that life was pleasant. She felt Kati was more grown-up in the book than Lindgren herself was at that age.