Camilla Collett

Camilla Collett was born in 1813 as the younger sister of the poet Henrik Wergeland. She received a private education at home and abroad, and became interested in literature and philosophy. She fell in love with the poet Johan Sebastian Welhaven, who was her brother's rival, but their relationship ended due to family opposition. In 1841, she married Peter Jonas Collett, a professor of law and a liberal politician. They had two sons and lived happily until his death in 1851. Camilla Collett started writing after her husband's death, and published her only novel, The District Governor's Daughters, in 1854-55. The novel is considered the first Norwegian work of social realism and feminism, as it criticizes the patriarchal society and the institution of marriage that limits women's freedom and happiness. The novel was inspired by her own experiences and the works of female writers such as George Sand and Rahel Varnhagen. After the novel, Collett wrote mainly essays, articles, and memoirs, in which she advocated for women's rights, education, and emancipation. She also wrote about her family, her travels, and her personal struggles. She was a mentor and a friend to many young writers, such as Amalie Skram and Alexander Kielland. She was an honorary member of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights, founded in 1884. She died of pneumonia in 1895, at the age of 82. She is regarded as one of the most influential and original writers in Norwegian literature.