Harriet Bosse: Strindberg's muse and interpreter

611 Pages·1990·3.88 MB·English

by  Carla Waal

Harriet Bosse
Strindberg's Muse and Interpreter
Carla Waal
Southern Illinois University Press
Carbondale and Edwardsville

Harriet Bosse : Strindberg's Muse and
title:
Interpreter
author: Waal, Carla.
publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
isbn10 | asin: 0809315483
print isbn13: 9780809315482
ebook isbn13: 9780585111650
language: English
Bosse, Harriet, --1878-1961, Strindberg,
August, --1849-1912--Marriage, Strindberg,
subject August, --1849-1912--Stage history, Actors-
-Sweden--Biography, Dramatists, Swedish-
-19th century--Biography.
publication date: 1990
lcc: PN2778.B65W33 1990eb
ddc: 839.7/26
Bosse, Harriet, --1878-1961, Strindberg,
August, --1849-1912--Marriage, Strindberg,
subject: August, --1849-1912--Stage history, Actors-
-Sweden--Biography, Dramatists, Swedish-
-19th century--Biography.
Page iv
Copyright © 1990 by the Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois
University
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Edited by Carol A. Burns
Designed by Barbara J. King
Production supervised by Natalia Nadraga
93 92 91 90 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Waal, Carla, 1933
Harriet Bosse: Strindberg's muse and interpreter / by Carla Waal.
p. cm.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Bosse, Harriet, 18781961. 2. Strindberg, August, 18491912
BiographyMarriage. 3. Strindberg, August, 18491912Stage
history. 4. ActorsSwedenBiography. 5. Dramatists,
Swedish19th centuryBiography. I. Title.
PN2778.B65W33 1990
839.7´26dc20
[B]
ISBN 0-8093-1548-3 89-32971
CIP
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of
American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.

Page v
To Anne Marie Wyller Hagelin
Page vii
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
1. Debut of a Princess 1
2. Debut in Sweden 12
3. The Ingenue and the Playwright 25
4. Reaching Out 41
5. Stardom 54
6. Reign at the Royal Theatre 69
7. The Turning Point 126
8. Independence 146
9. Bitter Homecoming 171
10. After the Final Curtain 186
11. Inspiration and Interpreter 203
Appendix A: First Performances of Roles Played by 239
Harriet Bosse
Appendix B: "Strindberg as I Knew Him" by Harriet 246
Bosse
Abbreviations of the Names of Libraries, Archives, and 247
Private Collections

Page viii
Notes 248
Bibliography 277
Index 291
Plates appear on pages 85125
Page ix
Preface
A photograph of Harriet Bosse as Elektra first drew my attention to
the charismatic actress. While doing research on the Norwegian
actress Johanne Dybwad, I often encountered Bosse's name since they
performed many of the same roles. Later, when asked to review the
English translation of the Bosse-Strindberg correspondence and
selections from his Occult Diary, I learned that much of what August
Strindberg wrote after meeting her reflects his adoration of Bosse and
his despair over the problems of their marriage. The haunting image
of the beautiful Elektra merged with scenes from a complex
relationship, and I wanted to know more about her achievements as an
independent artist. I learned that Harriet Bosse's identity in the public
view and in literary history is as the wife of a literary genius. She saw
herself as both an independent professional and as guardian of the
Strindberg legend.
Thanks to a grant funded by the Swedish Institute, in cooperation with
the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, I visited
Sweden in 1968 and began to familiarize myself with Strindberg
bibliography. I also had the pleasure of meeting Torsten Eklund, who
encouraged me in my hope to write a biography of Bosse. In 1981 and
1983 other grants from the Swedish Institute enabled me to return to
Sweden for extended stays. Not only did they provide funding for
research on Bosse, the Swedish Institute enabled me to meet Anne
Marie Wyller Hagelin, Bosse and Strindberg's daughter. She has
provided invaluable information and encouragement, as have other
members of Bosse's family. The process of gathering material for this
book has been an adventure, as I have met actors, critics, directors,
scholars, and others who have shared their memories.
In addition to information obtained through interviews, this biography
draws upon published and unpublished sources from libraries,
archives, and private collections, primarily in Scandinavia. Most of
the material was in Swedish or Norwegian. Unless otherwise noted,
translations of quotations are my own.
When this study began, I wanted to separate Harriet Bosse from her
romanticized image in the shadow of August Strindberg and to credit
her with self-sufficiency and individuality. She was a fascinating
person. As her daughter-in-law Randi Wingård has said, "Harriet was
a great personality, and even if she was tiny, one could not help
noticing her in any gathering.