Background
Dorothe Engelbretsdatter was born in Bergen, Norway. She was the daughter of Rector and Vicar, Engelbret Jørgenssøn (1592-1659) and Anna Wrangel. Her father was originally head of Bergen Cathedral School, and later dean of Bergen Cathedral.
In 1652, she married Ambrosius Hardenbeck (1621-1683), a theological writer famous for his flowery funeral sermons, who succeeded her father at the Cathedral in 1659.
Career
She principally wrote hymns and poems which were strongly religious. In her youth, Dorothe spent some time in Copenhagen. In 1678 her first volume appeared, Siælens Sang-Offer published at Copenhagen.
This volume of hymns and devotional pieces, very modestly brought out, had an unparalleled success.
The first verses of Dorothe Engelbretsdatter are commonly believed to have been her best. The fortunate poet was invited to Denmark, and on her arrival at Copenhagen was presented at court.
She was also introduced to Thomas Hansen Kingo, the father of Danish poetry. The two greeted one another with improvised couplets, which have been preserved and of which the poet"s reply is incomparably the neater.
King Christian V of Denmark granted her full tax freedom for life.
Her Taare-Offer (1685) was dedicated to Queen Charlotte Amalia, the wife of King Christian V. She had nine children, but seven of them died young and her two adult sons lived far away from Bergen. She lost her house in the great fire in 1702 in which 90 percent of the city of Bergen was destroyed. Her re-placement house was not available until 1712.
Her sorrow is evident in examples such as the poem Afften Psalme.
She died on the 19th of February 1716. Grindal, Gracia (2011) Preaching from Home: The Stories of Seven Lutheran Women Hymn Writers (Wm B Eerdmans Publishing).
Politics
She has been characterized as Norway"s first recognized female author as well as Norway"s first feminist before feminism became a recognized concept.