Teckla Juel

Teckla Violanta Juel née Suenssen (1834–1904) was a Danish writer and composer. Brought up by a mother interested in literature, like her sisters Alfhilda Mechlenburg and Fanny Suenssen, she contributed articles to women's magazines and published novels and short stories. Furthermore, using the name Teckla, she published a number of songs for which she had composed the music.

Biography Born on 20 May 1834 in Tønning in the south of Jutland, Teckla Violanda Suenssen was the youngest daughter of Captain Johan Fedder Carsten Suenssen (1795–1840) and his wife Margaret née Juel. She was brought up by a mother deeply interested in literature with two sisters who also became writers. In August 1867, she married the schoolteacher at Aalborg Cathedral School Axel Georg Juel (1822–1903) with whom she had two children: Margrethe (1869) and Elise Henriette (1871).

After marrying Axel Juel in 1867, she spent the next ten years in Aalborg where her husband was employed. In 1876, the family settled in Copenhagen. Later publications included three novels: Hittebarnet (1870), Zigeunerbarnet (1871), Karen (1874) and the short story collection Paa Skraaplanet (1891). Together with her two sisters, she contributed to the children's book of stories and verse, Ei blot til Lyst (1880) and the play En Skilsmisse (A Divorce, 1872). The play was presented at Copenhagen's Royal Danish Theatre as Et Ægteskab in Fare (A Marriage in Danger) in 1875.

Many of her works were translated into Swedish and German. According to Schriftsteller-Lexikon der Gegenwart, she gained considerable popularity in Germany.

Teckla Juel died in Copenhagen on 27 October 1904.