27. Becoming King of Cannibal Island
When King Lamry died, he was succeeded as ruler of Tabar by his son-in-law, Carl-Emil Pettersson. Over the years, Pettersson sailed back to Sweden from time to time, to trade and tell tales of his “cannibal island”. The new ruler was dubbed “King Carl the First” and “Prince Pettersson”, and his subjects affectionately nicknamed him “Strong Charley”. Pettersson did not become famous until 1913, when Swedish diplomat Count Brigen Moerner visited Tabar, and took photos of the Swedish sailor and his growing family, which were published back home.
The earliest Pettersson stories were published the following year, in 1914, and featured sharks, pirates, and rollicking adventures – he did not mind stretching the truth in order to tell a good yarn. The story of the Swedish sailor who traveled the high seas and ruled over a faraway island-inspired Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking. Just like Pettersson ruled a faraway island, Pippi Longstocking’s enterprising father also sailed the high seas and ruled a faraway island as king.
