The Dangerous Age, published in 1910, shattered existing literary taboos by exploring the candid sexual desires of a forty-year-old woman. This groundbreaking novel propelled the Danish writer Karin Michaëlis to international prominence, eventually earning translations into more than 23 languages and multiple film adaptations throughout the early twentieth century.
Early Life and Initial Career
Born Katharina Bech-Brøndum in 1872 in Randers, Denmark, she was the daughter of telegraph official Jacob Anthonius Brøndum and Nielsine Petrine Bech. Her early life in Randers was defined by a modest upbringing. After working as a private teacher in Læsø and elsewhere, she moved to Copenhagen in 1892 to study piano. There, she met the writer Sophus Michaëlis, whom she married in 1895. The pair supported themselves primarily by composing theater reviews until their marriage ended in 1911.
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Michaëlis achieved significant fame with the publication of The Dangerous Age, which followed the life of Elsie Lindtner. She continued this narrative arc in 1912 with the novel Elsie Lindtner. Her prolific output spanned 50 years, comprising more than 50 books written in Danish, German, and English. In 1914, she published School of Joy, a story set in a reform school managed by her associate, the pedagogue Eugenie Schwarzwald. Between 1929 and 1939, she produced seven volumes of the Bibi series, which gained international success as literature for adolescents.
Political Engagement and Exile
During World War I, she pursued humanitarian efforts in Austria, where she formed a deep connection with the region through her collaboration with Schwarzwald. She frequently voiced warnings regarding the rise of Mussolini and Hitler. In 1932, she attended an anti-war congress in Amsterdam to promote peace education. Following the rise of fascism, her works were prohibited in Italy and Germany. She assisted refugees by hosting individuals such as Bertolt Brecht, Helene Weigel, and Maria Lazar on her property in Thurø. Upon the 1940 invasion of Denmark, she emigrated to the United States before returning to her home country in 1946.
Journalism and Later Works
Beyond her novels, she maintained a career in journalism. Her American contributions included a two-part series for Munsey's Magazine in 1913 and an interview with Woodrow Wilson titled On President Wilson's Trail, published in Living Age in 1925. In the 1940s, she released two autobiographical works, Little Troll and Wonderful World, building upon reflections on her childhood first documented in the series Træet på Godt og Ondt, written between 1924 and 1930.
Fast facts
- Born: 1872, Randers, Denmark
- Died: 1950, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Buried: Thurø Church
- Notable Award: Tagea Brandt Rejselegat (1927)
- Notable Novel: The Dangerous Age (1910)
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Karin Michaëlis address in her writing?
She focused on the female experience, women's rights, and children's literature, notably writing the seven-volume Bibi series for adolescents.
Where is Karin Michaëlis buried?
She is buried at the Thurø Church cemetery on the island of Funen.
