Elin Wägner


Elin Matilda Elisabet Wägner was a Swedish writer, journalist, feminist, teacher, ecologist and pacifist. She was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1944.

Biography

Elin Wägner was born in Lund, 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, National Association for Women's Suffrage, for founding the Swedish organization Rädda Barnen and for developing the women's citizen school at Fogelstad.
Alongside Fredrika Bremer, Wägner is often seen as the most important and influential feminist pioneer in Sweden.
, Ada Nilsson, Kerstin Hesselgren, Honorine Hermelin and Elin Wägner
Wägner was the launching editor of the weekly political magazine Tidevarvet and headed the magazine from 1924 to 1927. 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, Pennskaftet, Åsa-Hanna, Kvarteret Oron, Silverforsen, Vändkorset, Väckarklocka and Vinden vände bladen. Her three novels Dialogen fortsätter, 1932, Genomskådad, 1937, and Hemlighetsfull, 1938. are credited with projecting her pacifist stance foreseeing the threat of further war. Her 1941 non-fiction title Väckarklocka foresees environmental issues, but it was her biography of Selma Lagerlöf that is credtted with winning her a place at the prestigious Swedish Academy.
Wägner has recently been translated into English with Stockholm Stories, 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.
Wägner was married to John Landquist from 1910 to 1922.

Books