Athalia Schwartz

Athalia Theophilia Schwartz (22 February 1821 – 2 November 1871), pen name Hieronymus, was a Danish writer, journalist and educator. She was an important female contributor to 19th-century Danish literature, publishing schoolbooks, poetry, drama and short stories. She was employed by Berlingske Tidende as a theatre critic. She also wrote about the conditions and lives of prostitutes in England, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Early life Athalia Theophilia Schwartz was born on February 22, 1821, in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the daughter of Major Claus Conrad Schwartz (1796–1879), who educated army cadets, and his wife Karen Rasmine Baggesen (1796–1863). Together with her brother and five sisters she was brought up in a well-to-do home where the children were encouraged to gain independence.

After the school's closure she focused on writing, publishing school books and fiction while contributing articles on national issues in the press. Her principal area of interest was girls' education and pedagogy, with special attention to the operation of schools. She published three theatrical works of her own: Ruth, Alexei, and Charlotte Corday during the 1850s and 60s.

In 1866 she received the Anckers Scholarship (Danish: Det anckerske Legat) and conducted study trips in England, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Death She died on 2 November 1871 at the age of 50.