Louise Ahlén Explained

Louise Ahlén
Birth Name:Louise Holmer
Birth Place:Kristianstad, Scania, Sweden
Death Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Resting Place:Norra begravningsplatsen, Stockholm
Occupation:Writer

Louise Ahlén (; 28 November 1857 – 24 May 1913) was a Swedish writer most famous for her two added verses to the Swedish National anthem.[1]

Biography

Ahlén was born Louise Holmer on the 28 November 1857 in Kristianstad. In 1880 Louise married Abraham Ahlén who worked as a lecturer at Kristianstad's Higher Educational Institute (Swedish: Kristianstads högre allmänna läroverk).

Additional lyrics to Du gamla, du fria

During the Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden Ahlén wrote two additional verses to the Swedish national anthem Du gamla, du fria. These additions were aimed to make the anthem more patriotic, in contrast to the original that was heavily inspired by the mid 19th-century's pan-Scandinavian Nationalism.

Here are Ahlén's lyrics to Du gamla, du fria:

Notes and References

  1. Tidningen Idun Årgång 26, nr 44, 2 november 1913