Pauline Westdahl

Eleonora Polynetta (Pauline) Emilia Westdahl, (24 March 1810 – 7 August 1887) was a Swedish author and pioneer within the Swedish awakening movement and temperance activist. Westdahl published her novel Rosor och törnen (Roses and thorns), in 1873, and also wrote a book on sobriety and a children's fairytale.

Biography Eleonora Polynetta Emilia was born 24 March 1810. Her father was the duke Polycarpus Cronhielm (1774–1810) and her mother Anna Margareta Maria Edenhielm and she had five siblings. Her father was Master of the Chase. The year she was born, both parents died and Pauline was raised by relatives in Gothenburg and in Jönköping. She was given a comprehensive education in literature and languages. After his death in 1865, Westdahl lived in Stockholm as a vicar's widow with a yearly pension of 200 (SEK). To make a living, she had to rent out rooms, and translated articles for, and wrote, for local newspapers. She released her first novel, Rosor och törnen (Roses and thorns), in 1873 at the age of 63. Earlier, she had published a book on sobriety and the hurtful nature of alcohol. She also wrote a children's fairytale, called Ett treblad för julen.