In the Netherlands the novels of =Elizabeth Bekker= were extremely popular at the end of the 18th Century. She ranks high among Dutch authors. Her “Historie van William Levend,” the “Historie van Sara Burgerhart,” “Abraham Blankaart” and “Cornelia Wildshut” are her greatest works. The poems of =Agathe Dekken= are to this day esteemed masterpieces of Dutch poetry. During the 19th Century =Mrs. Bosboom-Toussaint’s= novels, and =Helen Swarth’s= poems “Passiebloemen” have been widely read.
The most eminent woman writer of Denmark was =Thomasine Kristine Baroness Gyllembourg-Ehrensvärd=, who introduced into Danish literature a novel vein of realism and domestic humor. Although she has had many imitators, she is still without a rival. =Hadda Raonkilde= has exerted a powerful influence upon Scandinavian literature.
The two most successful women-novelists of Norway are =Anna Magdalene Thoresen= and =Jacobine Camilla Collet=, author of the excellent novel “Amtmandens Döttre” (“The Governor’s Daughters”). In 1894 all Norway celebrated her eightieth birthday as a national holiday.
The most eminent Swedish novelist of the 19th Century was =Frederika Bremer=. Her “Sketches of Every Day Life” attracted immediate attention. But this success was far surpassed by the novels “The H—— Family” and “The Neighbors.” Both manifest the author’s purity, simplicity, and love of domestic life. These books as well as almost all of the author’s later works have been translated into English, German and French.
Another Swedish author of note was =Anne Charlotte Edgren=. Of =Emily Carlen’s= novels “The Rose of Thistle Island” and “The Magic Goblet” are most appreciated. =Anna Maria Lenngren= belongs likewise to the most popular Swedish writers. The Swedish Academy ordered a medal cast in her honor. And of the Swedish authors of the 20th Century =Selma Lagerloef= was in 1909 awarded the Nobel Prize for her beautiful modern saga “Goesta Berling.”
Finland and Poland too have noteworthy women-writers. Finland, “Country of the thousand lakes,” was the birth-place of =Sarah Wacklin=, =Wilhelmina Nordström= and =Helen Westermark=. The literature of Poland was enriched by the poems and novels of =Elizabeth Jaraczewska=, =Lucya Rautenstrauss=, =Narcyza Zwichowska= and =Comtesse Mostowska=.