Malla Silfverstolpe
1782–1861.
Author.
Magdalena (Malla) Silfverstolpe became an orphan early in her life and grew up with the mother's relatives on the family estate Edsberg. She and her husband David Silfverstolpe moved to Uppsala in 1812 and quickly found themselves in the stimulating academic and weathered environment.
After the death of her husband in 1819, Silfverstolpe began "keeping a salon" on Friday evenings for the higher society of the times where people from the cultural and scientific circles participated. The salon was held in the home at the main square, where among other romantics Geijer and Atterbom gathered.
It offered the opportunity to listen to literature read aloud and music. It was debated, songs were sung and letters read. Both Malla Silfverstolpe and Thekla Knös, who also held salon, have described these meetings in their respective diaries.
Malla Silfverstolpe had an ability to gather and invite talents and in the home several celebrities was received, such as Jenny Lind, H.C. Andersen and C.J.L. Almqvist. Malla Silfverstolpe participated in the feud around Almqvist's book and published a book as a response.
Burial site: 0104-0249
Image description: Malla Silfverstolpe 1850's. Photo: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
Click here for an uncropped image
