TEHRAN – The 12th edition of the Persian translation of French novelist Maurice Druon’s 1957 book “The Story of the Green Thumb” has recently been published.
Iranian Institute of Children and Youth Intellectual Development – Qanun of Tehran is the publisher of the book translated by Lili Golestan. The publisher released the first edition in 1974.
“Testou with the Green Thumb” is the only children’s literature written by Maurice Druon. The story is a pacifist post-war tale that explores childhood’s perception of adult preconceptions. It celebrates the healing and transformative power of nature and stands in sharp contrast to militarism.
This story is about Tistou, a boy with a “green thumb” who can make flowers bloom wherever he wants. Tistou uses his talent to brighten up the city by transforming dark places such as prisons, hospitals, and slums with bright flowers. His kindness and imagination also led him to decorate the cannon with flowers symbolizing peace and stop the war. When his best friend Mustache dies, Tistou builds a ladder of flowers and climbs to heaven to find him. His pony, Gymnastics, concludes that Tistou was an angel, emphasizing the purity and innocence of his spirit.
An adaptation of Druong’s story is the theatrical production “Water Lilies,” produced by the Unification Theater and premiered in 1978. An opera was also produced entitled Tistou les pouces verts: opéra pour enfants, with a libretto by Jean-Luc Tardieu and music by Henri Sauguet. This opera has been performed in cities as diverse as Neuilly, Nantes, and Rouen, and features elaborate sets and costumes.
The story also inspired an animated film directed by Yuji Tanno with a screenplay by Ryu Tachihara and music by Jean-Michel Hervé, commemorating the 1990 Osaka International Flower and Green Exhibition.
SAB/