Victoria Benedictsson

Biography of nineteenth century, Swedish female playwright Victoria Benedictsson by Hedda House.

Hi friends,
How’s 2019 treating you? I’m back and we’re in Sweden; in the nineteenth century and we’re talking someone who has been considered one of the greatest writers of Swedish realism, alongside August Strindberg: Victoria Benedictsson.

This is what interests me most in the world: the equality of the sexes Click To Tweet

? Benedictsson was active as a writer from 1881, with the years 1884-8 being her most productive when alongside several plays she published two novels, two collections of short stories and several newspaper articles.

? Has been considered by some one of the greatest writers of Swedish realism, alongside August Strindberg.

? She wrote under the pseudonym Ernst Ahlgren. However, early incarnations include ‘Tardif’, the tardy, and ‘O. Twist’ meaning the unwelcome.

? An early feminist, her writing often dealing with inequality within marriage and women’s rights and is characterised by it’s (mostly) positive vibe with happy endings.

? Committed suicide by cutting her own throat with a razor in the same Copenhagen hotel room in which George Brandes seduced her.

I want to write about women. And if – after having written the most daring and honest things I know – I still feel as I do now, then I want to die. Click To Tweet

? She has been thought to be the model for both Hedda Gabler and Miss Julie. There is little concrete connection though, beyond Gabler’s suicide and the manner of suicide in Strindberg, which was written with a year.

? ‘Theories’ (‘Teorier’) was written in the autumn of 1887 but it wasn’t performed for the first time until 1988 (The Stockholm Student Theatr (Stockholms Studentteater))

? Her other Works include the plays ‘Final’ and ‘The Enchantment’ (‘Den Bertagna’) unfinished. Finished by Axel Lundegård i & published in 1890. Venne Moberg’s translation calls it ‘Spellbound’.

? Benedictsson was the first of the literary group Young Sweden (‘Det unga Sverige’) to receive a grant from the Swedish Academy. She called herself “a pariah, a mangy dog” and had thought she would be excluded because of her gender.

I am a woman. But I am an author – am I not, then, something of a man as well? Click To Tweet

Her Full Stats: Born Victoria Maria Bruzelius on 6th March 1850 in Domme, Skåne.
Died on 21st July 1888 in Copenhagen.

Want to help Hedda House?

Sharing is caring so if you’ve enjoyed reading this biography why not share this page on social media? I’ve created a handy-dandy Pinterest-sized graphic below for just that reason. Every share helps get the word out about another awesome female playwright. Thank you 🙂

Ever wondered who was the inspiration for Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and Strindberg's Miss Julie? Read this biography of nineteenth century Swedish female playwright Victoria Benedictsson by Hedda House to learn more about her.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *