While both author and illustrator, Ake Runnstrom, are Swedish- and the setting presumably that, there is an oddly British flavor to the story. For Little Chipping was pleasantly happy in its old-fashioned charm until Mr. Progress came to town and tried to make every operation a machine-made one. How unhappy the people were with baking goods, buildings, paint jobs (and here the Pomanders were involved) turned out mechanically. Yes, even teaching. And then a flood came along- and the machinery went kerplunk. It was a drastic misadventure to bring contentment back again- but well worth it. Fun reading, and pleasantly absurd.