Note: This was the first Moomin story written and the first one published. However, it is sometimes listed as the second book in the series because most major characters were introduced in the next book. First English translation in a limited edition in 2005. The author began writing the story in 1939, then set it aside. It was finished and published in 1945. From the author's 1991 "Preface" to the 2012 edition, viewed via as "Look Inside!" at Amazon UK, apparently p9-11 of the 2012 hardcover ed.: "It was the winter of war, in 1939. One's work stood still; it felt completely pointless to try to create pictures. ... [Rather than traditional fairytale characters, I] chose instead my angry signature character from the cartoons, and called him the Moomintroll. The half-written story was forgotten until 1945. ..."