492:
with
Kenneth Williams, from August 1978, for a second time: this time calling it simply "Agaton Sax" — presumably in an effort to conceal how many repeats it was getting, since in April 1985 this same adaptation was repeated for a third time, i.e. its fourth transmission altogether, on this occasion
81:
In 2022 UK publishers Oak Tree Books released new editions of the 10 Agaton Sax books, the first republishing of the series since the Target paperbacks in the 1970s. Translated by Kenton Hall, and with new illustrations, the series will include the 11th Agaton Sax book, never before published in an
500:
Overall, and including all repeats, the Agaton Sax adaptations totalled 40 broadcasts on BBC1, between the initial transmission on
October 9, 1972, and the final repeat, aired on April 5, 1985. This coincided with the character's surge in popularity in the UK, due to the publication of the English
69:
As with many foreign language novels translated into
English, the style and idiosyncrasies of the translations were quite important to the popularity and success of the English editions. Unusually, Franzén did most of the English translations himself, working with a supplemental translator, Pamela
411:
as the storyteller. Each was presented as five 15-minute episodes, in which
Williams read an abridged version of the book (although it was more than a simple reading: being an experienced comedy actor, Williams performed the characters individually from the script, using just his voice and facial
443:—voicing the characters. All of these changes—namely, the 4-year delay in transmission, the removal of the original title, and the substitution of Peter Hawkins for Kenneth Williams—were designed to conceal as best as possible the fact that the production was simply a remake of the 1972
551:
with the
Moomintroll series, depended upon a native English speaking translator, due to the tricky business of presenting the humour present in the original text to a non-Scandinavian audience – humour being a peculiarly difficult aspect to translate
77:
The publication order in
English was very different to that of the original Swedish editions, and the fact that the author himself mostly prepared the translations enabled revisions to be made which reflected the order in which he translated them.
346:
and of several obscure languages. He is an early adopter of the computer for crime-solving purposes, though Aunt
Matilda dismisses it as his "confuser". He has no known love interests and a pronounced dislike of garlic. Sax is also reminiscent of
368:
Aunt
Matilda cares for Agaton, providing him food and company in her old age. Matilda is often underestimated, and can be quite an adversary – usually armed only with basic household objects. Her umbrella is her favourite weapon of choice.
359:
Inspector
Lispington often emerges in Sax's crime-fighting as a hapless, and clumsy hindrance. While well-intentioned, and always Sax's friend, Lispington seems out of his depth, often mishandling dangerous situations.
596:
was the first of the series published in
Swedish, but was one of the last English translations to appear: the translation contains references to other books in the English series, even though the original text of
73:
The British series was immensely popular, and as a result, became the "most re-issued detective/mystery series in the history of Nordic children’s literature in British translation for the period 1950–2000."
331:
The protagonist in the series, Agaton Sax, is described as a pleasant, round Swede with a moustache. As well as running his detective agency, he also runs the local newspaper, the
462:, and once again featured Kenneth Williams voicing all the characters. Adapted in 3 parts of 25 minutes each, it aired just six months after the transmission of Williams' second
412:
expressions). His performance was inter-cut with the illustrations by Quentin Blake published in the British editions of the books. The first to receive this treatment was
46:
The novels are an ironic pastiche of the detective genre: for example Agaton Sax's colleague, the hapless Inspector Lispington of Scotland Yard, is clearly modelled on
778:
727:
17:
763:
70:
Royds, on stylistic choices, which was a significant factor in preserving the humour of the original Swedish versions into the English translations.
758:
58:); he has one for every day of the week, which he smokes when thinking. Franzén was also inspired by another children's books detective in Sweden,
773:
768:
342:
Sax's dachshund Tikkie and Aunt Matilda help him track down criminals such as Octopus Scott and Julius Mosca. He is a master of underwater
564:"Keeping "the Spirit of the Text": A Publishing and Translation History Case Study of Nils-Olof Franzén's Detective Series Agaton Sax"
519:"Keeping "the Spirit of the Text": A Publishing and Translation History Case Study of Nils-Olof Franzén's Detective Series Agaton Sax"
178:
401:
Three of the novels were adapted for television in the UK between 1972 and 1981, broadcast as segments of the BBC children's series
385:
Agaton Sax's futuristic computer, which he built himself to assist in crime solving. Aunt Matilda refers to it as a 'confuser'.
458:. An English-language version was broadcast in the UK by the BBC in August 1978, adapted by Daphne Jones, under the title
748:
473:
In connection with the film, a three part TV series aired on Swedish television, with the three installments based on
377:
Agaton Sax's dachshund occasionally joins Agaton in crime-fighting. Well trained, Tickie is normally quite helpful.
35:
is the protagonist of a series of Swedish-language humorous detective novels written for children by Swedish author
488:
This further series was not adapted by the BBC. However, in 1983, the BBC repeated the earlier 3-part adaptation
66:. Altogether, eleven books were published in Sweden, and all but one were also published in English translation.
16:
635:
753:
393:
Acting head of the Bykoping Police, he frequently assists Sax and Lispington in their investigations.
427:
Also in 1972, a four part animated television series was produced in Sweden, again based on the book
36:
47:
82:
English language version. The series has also been adapted into audiobooks for the first time.
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530:
408:
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51:
63:
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40:
25:
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This was unusual, perhaps even unique. Other popular Scandinavian authors, such as
59:
21:
431:. Adapted by Peggy Miller, it was aired by the BBC in April 1976 under the title
501:
translations in book form, both paperback and hardback, between 1965 and 1978.
55:
579:
534:
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in October 1981 (this last getting a repeat for Christmas in December 1982).
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403:
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was published in Sweden years before any of the other books were written.
343:
719:
20:
Paperback cover of "Agaton Sax and the Diamond Thieves", published by
15:
454:
was made in Swedish in 1976, with a plot loosely based on
420:
in February 1978 (which was repeated in April 1979), and
337:
First with the News - The Smallest Paper - but the Best.
439:—a well known BBC performer, including the voices of
416:
in October 1972, adapted by Jeremy Swan, followed by
89:, Franzén originally wrote the stories for his son.
54:fame. Like Holmes, Sax smokes pipes (in his case
24:in 1973, with a characteristic illustration by
447:serial which had been based on the same book.
733:Agaton Sax and the Bykoebing Village Festival
722:Agaton Sax and the Bykoebing Village Festival
650:with Peter Hawkins, BBC1, 12 to 14 April 1976
475:Agaton Sax and the League of Silent Exploders
311:Agaton Sax and Lispington's Grandfather Clock
142:Agaton Sax and the League of Silent Exploders
8:
134:Agaton Sax och den ljudlösa sprängämnesligan
285:Agaton Sax och den svällande rotmos-affären
625:Agaton Sax and the Accidental Millionaires
249:Agaton Sax och den bortkomne mr Lispington
303:Agaton Sax och den mörklagda ljusmaskinen
267:Agaton Sax och de okontanta miljardärerna
170:Agaton Sax och de slipade diamanttjuvarna
479:Agaton Sax and the Scotland Yard Mystery
351:with his round body, hat and moustache.
275:Agaton Sax and the Cashless Billionaires
198:Agaton Sax and the Scotland Yard Mystery
96:
509:
293:Agaton Sax and the London Computer Plot
483:Agaton Sax and the Colossus of Rhodes
257:Agaton Sax and the Colossus of Rhodes
7:
676:Agaton Sax and the Feast at Bykoping
662:Agaton Sax and the Feast at Bykoping
460:Agaton Sax and The Feast at Bykoping
779:Characters in children's literature
636:List of BBC-tv adaptations, 1972-85
470:, and was repeated in August 1979.
456:Agaton Sax and the Criminal Doubles
216:Agaton Sax and the Criminal Doubles
190:Agaton Sax och det gamla pipskägget
87:Agaton Sax and the Criminal Doubles
179:Agaton Sax and the Diamond Thieves
152:Agaton Sax och vita möss-mysteriet
43:illustrated the English editions.
14:
704:Agaton Sax: The Feast of Bykoping
692:, BBC1, 29 July to 12 August 1983
495:Agaton Sax: The Feast of Bykoping
493:retitled yet again, now known as
452:Agaton Sax och Byköpings gästabud
381:Clever Dick ( Tänkande August )
355:Chief Inspector Joshua Lispington
208:Agaton Sax och Byköpings gästabud
678:, BBC1, 20 July to 3 August 1979
664:, BBC1, 18 August to 1 Sept 1978
160:Agaton Sax and the Haunted House
39:and illustrated by Ă…ke Lewerth.
759:Fictional private investigators
562:Berry, Charlotte (2016-12-20).
517:Berry, Charlotte (2016-12-20).
429:Agaton Sax and the Max Brothers
414:Agaton Sax and the Max Brothers
234:Agaton Sax and the Max Brothers
468:The League of Silent Exploders
422:Lispington's Grandfather Clock
418:The League of Silent Exploders
1:
764:Swedish children's literature
226:Agaton Sax och bröderna Max
85:According to a footnote in
795:
774:Series of children's books
450:A 77-minute animated film
123:Agaton Sax and the Big Rig
769:Children's mystery novels
706:, BBC1, 3 to 5 April 1985
115:Agaton Sax klipper till
29:
490:The Feast at Bykoping
19:
612:"Nils-Olof Franzen"
749:Young adult novels
389:Sergeant Antonsson
48:Inspector Lestrade
30:
319:
318:
37:Nils-Olof Franzén
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409:Kenneth Williams
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52:Sherlock Holmes
12:
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5:
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729:New York Times
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592:For example,
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448:
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438:
437:Peter Hawkins
435:, with actor
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333:Bykoping Post
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41:Quentin Blake
38:
34:
27:
26:Quentin Blake
23:
18:
754:Novel series
732:
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552:effectively.
549:Tove Jansson
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364:Aunt Matilda
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335:(strapline:
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238:Bank Robbers
237:
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133:
122:
114:
86:
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72:
68:
64:Ă…ke Holmberg
60:Ture Sventon
45:
32:
31:
22:Target Books
720:IMDb about
599:The Big Rig
594:The Big Rig
397:Adaptations
56:Meerschaums
743:Categories
690:Agaton Sax
648:Agaton Sax
505:References
433:Agaton Sax
327:Agaton Sax
322:Characters
125:(revised)
109:Published
103:Published
33:Agaton Sax
580:2000-4389
568:Barnboken
535:2000-4389
523:Barnboken
464:Jackanory
445:Jackanory
404:Jackanory
93:The books
466:serial,
344:ju-jitsu
236:(a.k.a.
407:, with
731:about
578:
533:
373:Tickie
315:1978
307:1978
297:1973
289:1970
279:2022
271:1967
261:1972
253:1966
243:1970
230:1965
220:1971
212:1963
202:1969
194:1961
184:1965
174:1959
164:1975
156:1957
146:1974
138:1956
128:1976
119:1955
576:ISSN
531:ISSN
481:and
62:by
50:of
745::
574:.
572:39
570:.
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529:.
527:39
525:.
521:.
497:.
477:,
339:)
240:)
614:.
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537:.
28:.
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