Martina von Schwerin,

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

''Martina Törngren'' (3 January 1789 in

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

– 18 November 1875 in Gothenburg), was a Swedish Lady of letters, salonist and culture personality. She is known for her correspondence with A. S. de Cabre,

Carl Gustaf von Brinkman Karl Gustaf von Brinkman (25 February 1764 – 25 December 1847) was a Swedish and German classicist poet, writer and diplomat. Member of the Swedish Academy 1828–1847, Seat No. 3, ennobled and elevated to Baron, chamberlain. Karl Gustaf von ...

and

Esaias Tegnér Esaias Tegnér (; – ) was a Swedish writer, professor of the Greek language, and bishop. He was during the 19th century regarded as the father of modern poetry in Sweden, mainly through the national romantic epic ''Frithjof's Saga''. He has be ...

, and has been called "Tegnérs biktmoder" (The Confessor of Tegnér). Martina von Schwerin was renowned in contemporary Sweden for her intellectual gifts and was referred to as "The Swedish Madame de Stael".

Life

Martina von Schwerin was the daughter of the director of the

Swedish East India Company The Swedish East India Company ( sv, Svenska Ostindiska Companiet or ''SOIC'') was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with China and the Far East. The venture was inspired by the success of the Dutch East ...

, Martin Törngren and Eva Lovisa Svartlock, and married in 1805 to the courtier Baron Verner Gottlob von Schwerin. She had a daughter by the same name, Martina von Schwerin (1809–1839), who became a writer. Her marriage was arranged and unhappy, and she is described as patiently suffering. Martina von Schwerin preferred the philosophy of

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...

, although she was influenced by the enlightenment ideas of

Nils von Rosenstein Nils von Rosenstein (1 December 1752 — 7 August 1824) was a Swedish civil servant and propagator for enlightenment thinking. He served as tutor to the future King Gustav IV Adolf for eleven years (1784–1795) and as the first permanent secreta ...

. She supported the romanticism, but one a bit more affected by the enlightenment era, a view supported by

Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as treat ...

and Tegnér. Until the death of her spouse in 1840, she hosted a literary salon. She socialized in intellectual circles and met

Germaine de Stael Germaine may refer to: Given name *Germaine Arnaktauyok (born 1946), Inuk printmaker, painter, and drawer *Germaine Cousin (1579-1601), French saint *Germaine Greer (born 1939), feminist writer and academic *Germaine Koh (born 1967), Malaysian-born ...

in 1813. She met Eaias Tegnér in 1816, with whom she developed a deep friendship, which from his side at least at one point developed into love. After the death of her spouse in 1840, she withdrew from social life and settled outside of Gothenburg - she also made several travels. Her letters to Tegnér was published in "Ur Esaias Tegnérs papper" (From the papers of Esaias Tegnér) (1882), and "Martina von Schwerin, snillenas förtrogna" (Martina von Schwerin, the Confidante of Genius ones) (1912).

Sources

Nordisk familjebok / Uggleupplagan. 24. Ryssläder - Sekretär
* Theorell, Anita: Resa i tysta rum: okända svenska slottsbibliotek

Life

Sources

Further reading