Bremer, Fredrika (1810-1865)

Swedish novelist. She introduced the realistic family novel, gaining international recognition with Familjen H/The H Family (1831). She made studies of family life in both Europe and the USA, and became involved in social reform, especially the emancipation of women.

Bremer was born near Åbo, Finland, but brought up near Stockholm, Sweden. Her debut novel was Teckningar ur vardagslivet/Sketches of Everyday Life (1828). The novel Grannarna/The Neighbours (1837) is in epistolary form. Hemmen i nya världen/Homes of the New World (1853) resulted from her travels in the USA 1849-51, and Livet i gamla världen/Life in the Old World (1862) from a long journey through southern Europe and Palestine 1856-61. Her later works are particularly concerned with social problems. Women's need for independence and education is increasingly stressed, culminating in Hertha (1856).