The Story is set in Vaermland around 1860 or 1870. In the centre is Jan of Ruffluck Croft. He loves his daughter more than anything, but when she moves to Stockholm and never sends a word home about her doings, he sinks into a dream-world where she is a noble Empress of Portugallia. And he believes himself to be Emperor too. His whole world and all his thoughts are dominated by the thoughts of her return and what will happen then. In the role of Emperor in the poor forest country where he lives he can question the social hierarchies around him, and dressed in his Royal regalia he sits in the frontbench in the Church, and he takes the place of honour at Parties etc. After 15 years his daughter returns home and is shocked to see what a mad clown her father has become and...
Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish writer of novels and short stories, the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. She wrote in the field of magic realism, influenced mostly by her childhood fairy tales and picturesque natural world around her home. Worked as teacher, never married, and took part in some political issues. Her best known works include "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils", "Jerusalem", and "The Emperor of Portugallia".
