Inger Johanne's lively doings

In Short

This collection of vignettes chronicles the daily life and "lively doings" of a young girl in a picturesque Norwegian harbor town. Whether she is attempting to keep a cow in an abandoned smithy, staging amateur theatricals in a woodshed, or narrowly escaping death at sea, Inger Johanne approaches every day with intense, unvarnished enthusiasm. The book has endured because it captures the universal, chaotic energy of childhood. Through her observant eyes, the reader experiences the small-town dynamics, family relationships, and the profound, shifting emotions that define the threshold of youth.

The Story

The narrative follows Inger Johanne as she attempts to carve out a world of her own within the quiet, conventional life of her town. She starts by trying to "own" a difficult cow, attempting to house and milk it in an abandoned smithy with comical, messy results. Her life is a constant cycle of planning ambitious, often secret projects—such as a St. John’s Night bonfire on a hill she calls "Sahara"—and dealing with the fallout when these plans inevitably clash with the adult world.

As she moves through the seasons, the stakes vary. She engages in a secret, terrified exploration of a neighbor’s parlor, dances in a room that smells like the cow cellar beneath it, and navigates the social hierarchies of her school, where she struggles with arithmetic and holds a simmering grudge against an annoying, high-achieving classmate. Her adventures are not always lighthearted; she survives a harrowing near-drowning incident, an event that forces a shift in her character. After being saved by Evan, a boy she has consistently teased, her perspective softens. She commits to kindness, ensuring that Evan is fed and supported, marking a departure from her earlier, more callous behavior toward those she deemed "poor creatures."

The arc of the book reaches a climax during a Christmas visit to her uncle’s home. Inger Johanne, ever eager to be helpful, tries to treat the farm animals to a feast, only to cause a genuine crisis when a sheep nearly chokes on a potato. Overwhelmed by shame and her great-aunt’s sharp tongue, she retreats to a dark, desolate corner of the barn, imagining a tragic, solitary end to her life to spite her family. However, the warmth of her Aunt Magda eventually breaks through her despair, providing the comfort she needs. The book concludes with a poignant return home via steamer. Reunited with her mother, Inger Johanne finds that despite her restless spirit and the trouble she stirs up, the simple act of coming home is the most delightful experience of all.

How It Unfolds

The secret cow-keeper Inger Johanne attempts to establish an independent farm under the gooseberry bushes, eventually hijacking a feisty cow and hiding it in a derelict smithy. Her attempt to milk the beast into a tiny pint measure results in a series of farcical, soot-stained failures that she hides from her family.

The parlor intrusion Driven by an irresistible urge to see a neighbor’s embroidered fancy work, she and her friend Mina sneak into a locked house. The terror of being discovered by the owners transforms a simple curiosity into a high-stakes escape that haunts her whenever she sees the neighbor on the street.

The bonfire on Sahara The children plan a massive surprise fire on a hilltop, collecting wood and kerosene in secret. The project serves as a backdrop for the camaraderie of the neighborhood children and the secret, unspoken hierarchies of their play.

The near-drowning During an adventurous season of rowing on the water, Inger Johanne falls into the ice-cold sea. Her rescue by a boy she had previously bullied acts as the moral pivot of the book, forcing her to abandon her habit of teasing in favor of protective empathy.

The theatrical ambition A desire to perform leads the children to clear out a woodshed, stage a play, and write a program for their peers. This episode highlights her organizational zeal and the inevitable friction with the adults who find their noise and antics disruptive.

The Christmas crisis A misguided attempt to feed the farm animals ends in a near-tragedy for a sheep, leading to a dramatic self-imposed exile in a barn. The reconciliation with her aunt provides a bridge between her childish impulses and a growing maturity.

The People

Inger Johanne is the vibrant, restless center of the narrative. She is defined by her "tremendous desire" to do things, whether that means milking a cow or staging a play. Her impulsiveness often leads to trouble, but her capacity for self-reflection allows her to grow, particularly after her near-drowning.

Karsten, her brother, is her frequent accomplice. He is characterized by a growing, often annoying confidence, constantly asserting his superiority as a boy. Despite his bragging, he remains a loyal partner in her schemes, such as their shared quest for old, dusty papers or their participation in theatricals.

Aunt Magda serves as the emotional anchor of the book. She is the person who reaches Inger Johanne in her darkest, most shameful moments, offering comfort that feels like a reprieve. Her presence provides the security necessary for Inger Johanne to survive her own mistakes.

Heinrich Schulze, the German baker, is a figure of adult whimsy. Through his molasses cake dough and his willingness to give Inger Johanne his photograph, he represents a world outside the domestic sphere that she finds both sophisticated and deeply approachable.

In Its Own Voice

"It is certainly comical that I, Inger Johanne, wrote a book a while ago and that it was printed, so I (I!) am an author."

The narrator expresses her genuine, infectious surprise at finding herself an author in the opening pages of the book.

"I coaxed and pushed and pulled at Brownie so long that at last I got her into the smithy and the collar on her neck."

This sentence captures her relentless determination and the physical reality of her attempt to keep a cow in an abandoned outbuilding.

"I felt the staff pulled from above; how little Evan managed it, I can’t understand."

She reflects with wonder on the moment of her rescue during the terrifying near-drowning incident.

What It's Really About

The book explores the friction between the boundless, imaginative energy of childhood and the rigid, often uncomprehending expectations of the adult world. Inger Johanne is constantly looking for ways to exert agency in a life largely controlled by others. Her "lively doings" are not merely mischief; they are attempts to give shape to her world, to transform a boring afternoon into a stage play, or a derelict building into a farm. Underlying these acts is the question of how a child finds their own identity without losing their sense of wonder. It argues that growing up is less about outgrowing these impulses and more about learning to channel them into kindness and empathy, as shown by her changing attitude toward those she once mocked.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love stories about the messy, unpolished reality of being a child will find a kindred spirit in Inger Johanne. She is a refreshingly honest narrator—she admits to being bad at arithmetic, acknowledges her own vanity, and doesn't shy away from the fact that she was a bully before she learned better. The book feels like a warm, slightly dusty attic of memories, full of the sounds of the sea and the smell of molasses cake.

There are, however, elements that reflect the period in which it was written. The author’s view of "poor creatures" or social outcasts can feel patronizing to a modern reader, and the casual mention of children being struck—whether by a broom or a policeman’s club—reflects a disciplinary culture that is now distant. The length is moderate and the pace is episodic, making it easy to dip into, though the Norwegian setting may feel obscure to some. Still, the core of the experience remains: the intense, urgent, and often hilarious struggle of a girl trying to make sense of her world. What stays with the reader is the image of a child who feels everything deeply, and who learns that the most important thing she can do is come home.