Elin Brandell (14 August 1882 – 27 June 1963), was a Swedish journalist and author. As a journalist, she was known under her signatures ''Opolitiska frun'' (Mrs Apolitical), ''Regan'' and ''Clementine''.

Biography

Elin Brandell was the daughter of professor Pontus Henriques (1852–1933) and married in 1908 to journalist Simon Brandell. She was employed at ''

Dagens Nyheter ''Dagens Nyheter'' (, ), abbreviated ''DN'', is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It is published in Stockholm and aspires to full national and international coverage, and is widely considered Sweden's newspaper of record. History and profile ''Da ...

'' in 1906–1937. Elin Brandell belonged to a club called ''Ligan'' ('The Gang') of female journalists including

Elin Wägner Elin Matilda Elisabet Wägner (16 May 1882 – 7 January 1949) 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 ...

, Gerda Marcus,

Ester Blenda Nordström Ester Blenda Elisabet Nordström (31 March 1891 – 15 October 1948) was a Swedish journalist, writer and explorer. She often published her writings under the signature ''Bansai''. In 1914 she published ''En piga bland pigor'' which was an early ...

Ellen Rydelius Ellen Rydelius (27 February, 1885 – 1 April, 1957) was a Swedish translator and writer. She wrote a large number of guide books to major cities and several cookbooks but her major works are translations of Russian novels. In particular, she is ...

, Ellen Landquist, Agnes Lindhagen, Tora Bonnier and Célie Brunius. In 1912, she became the first woman to be given a foreign travel scholarship by '' Publicistklubben''. Brandell belonged to the elite of the Swedish press during her career and was well known celebrity. Her style is described as neutral but witty and intellectual. She is foremost known as ''Opolitiska frun'' ('Mrs Apolitical'), the signature under which she covered the debates in parliament from the gallery of the

Riksdag The Riksdag (, ; also sv, riksdagen or ''Sveriges riksdag'' ) is the legislature and the supreme decision-making body of Sweden. Since 1971, the Riksdag has been a unicameral legislature with 349 members (), elected proportionally and se ...

. The MP

Ivar Anderson Ivar (Old Norse ''Ívarr'') is a Scandinavian masculine given name. Another variant of the name is Iver, which is more common in Norway. The Old Norse name has several possible etymologies. In North Germanic phonology, several of the elements c ...

recalled how it was regarded as a distinction for an MP to be portrayed by her: :"When I was elected to the Riksdag I was made aware of Elin Brandell, Mrs Apolitical of the ''Dagens Nyheter'', who had her customary seat at the gallery. I admired her elegant style, her ability to observe and her wit. Einar Rosenborg of DN accompanied her at least during the greater debates. I think it was above all he who encouraged Elin Brandell and advised her in her Riksdag

Causerie Causerie (from French, "talk, chat") is a literary style of short informal essays mostly unknown in the English-speaking world. A causerie is generally short, light and humorous and is often published as a newspaper column (although it is not defin ...

s. She did not actually engage in any political comments but had her strength in the skillful descriptions of the atmosphere and her quick, witty and often rather ambushing personality analysis. She was quite a celebrity and one could see how the gentlemen of the chamber glanced longingly toward her as a mention by Mrs Apolitical was a distinction, whether she delivered appreciation or criticism. I was myself once or twice given the honor, but I can only recall the occasion when she ironically let me know that I was as neat as the breast pin of a scarf."Berger, Margareta, Pennskaft: kvinnliga journalister i svensk dagspress 1690-1975 enholders: Female journalists in Swedish press 1690-1975 Norstedt, Stockholm, 1977

Biography

References

Further reading