Fredrika Bremer - author, feminist, pioneer

Fredrika Bremer was born in 1801, the second eldest of the seven children, on the estate Tuorla, outside Åbo in Finland. The family had established itself as successful merchants in the town, during a time when Finland still belonged to Sweden. However, the parents  –  foundry proprietor Carl Fredric Bremer and his wife Birgitta Charlotta  – must have known the times were changing. In 1804, they sold the estate and the family moved to  Stockholm. 5 years later, Finland was lost to Russia.

In Sweden, the family bought Årsta Castle and it was restored into a summer mansion. Fredrika was raised here as well as in the apartment in the city of Stockholm. As the daughter of a wealthy family, she was expected to follow the early 19th century ideals for fine young girls.

She learned how to play the piano, draw, speak French and be eloquent and have pleasing manners. Through a strict diet, both she and her sisters were kept thin and dainty, to be considered attractive for marriage – preferably simultaneously climbing the social ladder.

The Bremer girls were not to be exposed to the exterior world, outside of the protected, wealthy environment, something which turned out to be unbearable for the curious Fredrika. The fact that her father was also moody and authoritarian, didn’t make life easier for her. Sometimes objects were found burnt in the ovens and curtains shredded at Årsta; probably by the frustrated Fredrika.

Eventually, life took a turn for the better. She found a way out of her frustration – by picking up a pen and starting to write. She also painted small portraits which she sold to be able to donate money to the poor in the parish of Österhaninge. In 1828, she published her first writings with the same aim of collecting money for the poor.  Her ’Teckningar utur hvardagslivet’, with descriptions of bourgeois life, turned out to be very successful. Two more publications followed, albeit anonymously  and she gained more and more readers. In 1830, it was revealed that she was the author and Fredrika Bremer became a name, not only in Sweden. In her lifetime, her works were  translated into 12 languages, an impressive number in the 1800’s. She was as famous as the Brontë sisters.

Fredrika’s curious mind flourished during her entire life. Already as a young girl, she was an avid reader. With the help of her teacher, Per Böklin, she studied philosophy in relation to religion and existential topics. Böklin proposed to Fredrika several times, but she always declined. However, they remained good friends throughout life.

Fredrika did not settle for books and theory – she wanted to see and experience as much as possible. She made two extensive trips; the first one in 1849-51 to the New World; North America, where she was greeted by loyal readers.  She visited the most wealthy homes as well as cotton plantations and was early on critical of slavery.

The second trip started in Switzerland in 1856 and continued through Italy, Greece and Palestine, with Fredrika returning much later, in 1861. Before her departure, she wrote an important piece contributing to the political – namely her novel 'Hertha or the story of a soul’ (1856). In her book, Fredrika  takes a clear stance for women’s rights to education, to own their own property and above all to the coming of age. Already in 1840, Fredrika had contacted the Swedish king to ask to become of age; which was the only way for a woman to become independent, if not through a father, husband or brother.

Through ‘Hertha’ this would change. The novel was heavily criticized, but members of parliament were inspired and an extensive debate, later called the ‘Hertha discussion’ took place. Two years later, it was decided that unmarried women over the age of 25 could apply in court to become of age.  Although far from modern legislation, this was a step in the right direction. The novel ’Hertha’  also inspired the establishment of Högre lärarinneseminariet in 1861, the first higher education for women in Sweden.

After her extensive journey, Fredrika returned to a country which had changed. 
She died in her writer’s room at Årsta Castle, on New Year’s Eve 1865, 64 years old. She continues to be an important person and symbol for early Swedish feminism.  Fredrika Bremer-förbundet ( The Fredrika Bremer Society) was founded in 1884, and is as one of Sweden’s oldest societies focusing on equality, still inspired by the life and works of Fredrika Bremer. The journal issued by the society bears the name ‘Hertha’ and many authors and researchers have shown interest in her and her work , several of them members of  Årstasällskapet för Fredrika Bremer-studier. The importance of Fredrika Bremer as a literary and feminist pioneer in Sweden cannot be underestimated.