Elin Wägner
Encyclopedia
Elin Matilda Elisabet Wägner (May 16, 1882 – January 7, 1949) was a Swedish
writer, journalist, feminist, teacher, ecologist and pacifist. She was a member of the Swedish Academy
from 1944.
, Sweden
as the daughter of a school principal, Wägner was only 3 years old when her mother died. Wägner's books and articles focus on the subjects of women's emancipation, civil rights
, votes for women, the peace movement
, welfare, and environmental pollution. She is best known for her commitment to the women's suffrage movement in Sweden, Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage
, for founding the Swedish organization Rädda Barnen
(the Swedish chapter of the International Save the Children Alliance
) and for developing the women's citizen school at Fogelstad (where she was also a teacher on civil rights).
Alongside Fredrika Bremer
, Wägner is often seen as the most important and influential feminist pioneer in Sweden.
A prolific writer, Wägner wrote novels, articles in various daily newspapers and screenplays for a number of films. Among Wägner's most popular novels — which continue to be read — are: Norrtullsligan ("Men and Other Misfortunes", 1908), Pennskaftet ("The Penholder", 1910), Åsa-Hanna (1918), Kvarteret Oron ("Stormy Corner", 1919), Silverforsen ("The Silver Rapids", 1924), Vändkorset ("The Turnstile", 1934), Väckarklocka ("Alarm Clock", 1941) and Vinden vände bladen ("The Wind Turned The Pages", 1947).
Wägner has recently been translated into English with Stockholm Stories (2002), which contains two of her wittiest novels: Men and Other Misfortunes and Stormy Corner. Many of her books have previously been translated into French, German, Dutch, and Russian.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
writer, journalist, feminist, teacher, ecologist and pacifist. She was a member of the Swedish Academy
Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy , founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden.-History:The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustav III. Modelled after the Académie française, it has 18 members. The motto of the Academy is "Talent and Taste"...
from 1944.
Biography
Born in LundLund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
as the daughter of a school principal, Wägner was only 3 years old when her mother died. Wägner's books and articles focus on the subjects of women's emancipation, civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, votes for women, the peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
, welfare, and environmental pollution. She is best known for her commitment to the women's suffrage movement in Sweden, Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage
Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage
The Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage , or LKPR, was a part of the general Suffrage movement and the national society for woman suffrage in Sweden. It was developed from Sveriges allmänna rösträttsförbund , the Suffrage Movement of Sweden, which was active mainly in acquiring full suffrage for males...
, for founding the Swedish organization Rädda Barnen
Rädda Barnen
Rädda Barnen is the name of the Swedish section of the International Save the Children Alliance.The Swedish section was founded on November 19, 1919 by Ellen Palmstierna together with writer Elin Wägner and Gerda Marcus .-See also:* Timeline of young people's rights in the United Kingdom...
(the Swedish chapter of the International Save the Children Alliance
International Save the Children Alliance
The International Save The Children Alliance is a worldwide non-profit organisation which aims to improve the living of children. There are 27 Save the Children member organisations around the world....
) and for developing the women's citizen school at Fogelstad (where she was also a teacher on civil rights).
Alongside Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer was a Swedish writer and a feminist activist. She had a large influence on the social development in Sweden, especially in feminist issues.-Background:...
, Wägner is often seen as the most important and influential feminist pioneer in Sweden.
A prolific writer, Wägner wrote novels, articles in various daily newspapers and screenplays for a number of films. Among Wägner's most popular novels — which continue to be read — are: Norrtullsligan ("Men and Other Misfortunes", 1908), Pennskaftet ("The Penholder", 1910), Åsa-Hanna (1918), Kvarteret Oron ("Stormy Corner", 1919), Silverforsen ("The Silver Rapids", 1924), Vändkorset ("The Turnstile", 1934), Väckarklocka ("Alarm Clock", 1941) and Vinden vände bladen ("The Wind Turned The Pages", 1947).
Wägner has recently been translated into English with Stockholm Stories (2002), which contains two of her wittiest novels: Men and Other Misfortunes and Stormy Corner. Many of her books have previously been translated into French, German, Dutch, and Russian.
Novels
- Från det Jordiska Museet (1907)
- Norrtullsligan (1908) - "Men and Other Misfortunes"
- Pennskaftet (1910) - "The Penholder"
- Helga Wisbeck (1913)
- Mannen och Körsbären (1914) - "The Man and the Cherries"
- Camillas Äktenskap (1915) - "Camilla's Marriage"
- Släkten Jerneploogs Framgång (1916)
- Åsa-Hanna (1918)
- Kvarteret Oron (1919) - "Stormy Corner"
- Den Befriade Kärleken (1919) - "The Liberated Love"
- Den Förödda Vingården (1920)
- Nyckelknippan (1921) - "The Bunch of Keys"
- Den Namnlösa (1922) - "The Nameless"
- Från Seine, Rhen och Ruhr (1923)
- Silverforsen (1924) - "The Silver Rapids"
- Natten till Söndag (1926)
- De Fem Pärlorna (1927)
- Den Odödliga Gärningen (1928)
- Svalorna Flyga Högt (1929)
- Korpungen och Jag (1930)
- Gammalrödja (1931)
- Dialogen Fortsätter (1932) - "The Dialogue Continues"
- Mannen vid min Sida (1933) - "The Man by my Side"
- Vändkorset (1934) - "The Turnstile"
- Genomskådad (1937) - "Unmasked"
- Hemlighetsfull (1938) - "Mysterious"
- Tusen År i Småland (1939) - "Thousand Years in Småland"
- Fred med Jorden (1940) - "At Peace with Earth"
- Väckarklocka (1941) - "Alarm Clock"
- Selma Lagerlöf I (1942)
- Selma Lagerlöf II (1943)
- Hans Larsson (1944)
- Vinden Vände Bladen (1947) - "The Wind Turned The Pages"
- Spinnerskan (1948)
- Fredrika Bremer (1949)