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Anna Magdalene Thoresen, née Kragh (3 June 1819 – 28 March 1903) was a Danish-born Norwegian poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright. She is said to have inspired a number of other writers to model characters after her. Her stepdaughter, Suzannah Ibsen, was married to Henrik Ibsen.

Personal life

She was born in Fredericia, Denmark, the daughter of skipper Thomas Nielsen Kragh and Anna Kristine Pedersen. She gave birth to an illegitimate child, who was put out to nurse. She then moved to Norway in 1842 and became governess for dean Hans Conrad Thoresen (1802–1858) at Herøy in Sunnmøre. He was a widower and had five children, and she married him in 1843. From 1844 they lived in Bergen, where she played a central role in the cultural life. Her stepdaughter, Suzannah Ibsen, was married to Henrik Ibsen. She had four children with Hans Conrad Thoresen. After her husband's death in 1858, she travelled to Copenhagen in 1861, moved to Christiania in 1866, and lived in Copenhagen from 1870. She died in Copenhagen in 1903.

Career

In Bergen the Thoresens' home became a meeting place for writers and actors. In 1850 Ole Bull established a theatre in Bergen, called Det Norske Theater. Thoresen wrote four plays that were staged anonymously at Det Norske Theater. Through the theatre she became acquainted with playwright Henrik Ibsen. She was a friend of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who published her poetry collection Digte af en dame in 1860. Among her novels are Studenten, published in the collection Fortællinger in 1862, Signes Historie from 1864, Min Bedstemoders Fortælling from 1867, and Solen i Siljedalen from 1868. Among her successful plays are Et rigt Parti, which was first staged at the Royal Danish Theatre in 1870 and later in Stockholm and in Christiania, and Inden Døre from 1877. She published the travel book Billeder fra Vestkysten av Norge in 1872, and another travel book, Billeder fra Midnatsolens Land, in 1882.

Influence

Thoresen's personality became a model for several female characters in Norwegian literature, including Ibsen's "Rebekka West" (from Rosmersholm) and "Ellida Wangel" (from The Lady from the Sea), and Bjørnson's "Maria Stuart" (from his 1864 play), the wild girl "Petra" from Fiskerjenten and "Leonarda" (from his 1879 play).

References

1. ^ Johnsrud, Ellen Birgitte. "Magdalene Thoresen". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
2. ^ "Magdalene Thoresen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
3. Beyer, Edvard (1975). Norges Litteraturhistorie (in Norwegian). Vol. 3. Oslo: Cappelen. pp. 555–558. ISBN 82-02-02996-1.

v t e Henrik Ibsen's family
Ancestors and birth relatives	Grandparents Henrich Ibsen, Johanne Plesner, Johan Andreas Altenburg, Hedevig Paus, Ole Paus (step grandfather), parents Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg, sister Hedvig Ibsen, uncles Christian Cornelius Paus, Henrik Johan Paus, Christopher Blom Paus, great-aunt Kristine Cathrine Ploug (née Altenburg), first cousin Ole Paus, nephew Carl Stousland, first cousin once removed Christopher de Paus, great-grandfather Cornelius Paus
Wife, family-in-law and issue	Wife Suzannah Ibsen (née Thoresen), step mother-in-law Magdalene Thoresen, son Sigurd Ibsen, daughter-in-law Bergliot Ibsen (née Bjørnson), grandson Tancred Ibsen, granddaughter Irene Ibsen Bille (née Ibsen), grandson's wife Lillebil Ibsen (née Krohn), great-grandsons Tancred Ibsen Jr. and Joen Bille, great-great-granddaughters Nora Ibsen and Beate Bille
See also: Ibsen family – Paus family

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• Danish women poets
• Norwegian poets
• Danish novelists
• Norwegian novelists
• Danish dramatists and playwrights
• Norwegian dramatists and playwrights
• 1819 births
• 1903 deaths
• Norwegian women novelists
• Danish women writers
• Women dramatists and playwrights
• Norwegian women poets