Catharina Ahlgren

Catharina Ahlgren reportedly became known as a poet and translator in the 1750s literary world before she had anything formally published. She was a personal friend of the famed poet Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht, and their correspondence is preserved. While her friend Nordenflycht wrote under the pseudonym "Herdinnan i Norden" (Shepherdess of the North), Catharina Ahlgren wrote under the name "Herdinnan i Ahl-Lunden" (Shepherdess of the Alder-Grove).[1]

She was active as a translator of both poetry and novels from the English, French and German languages. Among her translations were the German poem Die Prüfung Abrahams by Christoph Martin Wieland, and the English novel The Distressed Wife, or the history of Eliza Wyndham.

She debuted as a poet with her French language poem Au jour de l'illustre naissance de sa majestee notre adourable Reine Le 24 Jullet, dedicated to the queen, Louisa Ulrika, on the queen's birthday in 1764.

During the age of liberty in Sweden, many periodicals were published, discussing important issues in society, notably Then Swänska Argus. These periodicals were often written in form of a debate or a correspondence between two anonymous signatures. Some of them also took up the topic of the role of women in society and gender equality, the earliest one being Samtal emellan Argi Skugga och en obekant Fruentimbers Skugga by Margareta Momma in 1738-39. This presaged first-wave feminism in the English-speaking world. Many of them are believed to have female editors and journalists, but as they were customarily written under anonymous pseudonyms, most of them have not been identified.[5] Of the few identified of them were Margareta Momma, Anna Maria Rückerschöld and Catharina Ahlgren.

Literary women were viewed as fashionable. A male editor stated during a publication of a female poet: "As we wish for nothing higher than to encourage the knowledge among us, it cannot be anything other than pleasant that a member of the gender [women] so admirably support our intention."[2]

In the correspondence-debate in her periodical, she wrote 1772:

Even though I have just sent my letter, I still write anew until the post leaves. My only consolation Is my feather [feather pen]. Of all artists I praise the inventor of the art of writing the most.[6]

Likely through her second marriage, Catharina Ahlgren acquired a printing press, which she managed for a period.[1] Among the writers she published was Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht.

On 29 October 1772, Catharina Ahlgren published and edited the periodical Brefwäxling emellan twänne fruntimmer, den ena i Stockholm och den andra på landet i åskillige blandade ämnen (Correspondence between two ladies, on in Stockholm and the other in the country, in a number of various subjects), under the signature Adelaide. This was a feminist essay publication, written in the form of a debate i letters between two female signatures, in which she argued in favor of a social conscience, democracy and gender equality, and recommended solidarity between women as a protection against male guardianship and superiority.[5] She stated that the only way to reach true love within a relationship is to be equals, adding that as men so often want to rule over women, it is much harder to retain friendship with them than with another woman.[5] She discussed love and friendship, upbringing and education, monarchy and religion.[5] In February 1773, the essay was renamed Brefväxling emellan Adelaide och någre wittre snillen i omwäxlande ämnen (Correspondence between Adelaide and some literary geniuses in various subjects), and later that year Fortsättning af Adelaides brefwäxling, angående Fru Windhams historie (Adelaide's continuing correspondence, concerning the history of Mrs Windham). Catharina Ahlgren is also presumed to be the author of the noted periodical De Nymodiga Fruntimren, eller Sophias och Bélisindes Tankespel (Modern Women, or the thought play of Sophia and Belisinde), which were written in the same fashion.[1] This primarily concerned with women's education as a mean of reform in women's position: for example, criticizing the dominating French language in the customary education of females, as this was used for nothing more than reading of romantic novels, and advocated that girls should learn English instead, so they could be able to take part in the scientific literature normally only published in that language, such as history and geography.[7]

Catharina Ahlgren also played a pioneer role in Finland, where she lived in Åbo from at least 1782 onward. She is identified as the editor behind Om konsten att rätt behaga (Of the Art to Please Properly), which was, in fact, the first periodical published in Finland.[2]

She discontinued Om konsten at rätt behaga officially because of health reasons. In her farewell she wrote: "You may see, gentlemen, how much I wished to copy you."[2] In 1783, she published her last periodical, Angenäma Sjelwswåld (Pleasant Defyings).