Helena Patursson

Súsanna Helena Patursson (27 August 1864 in Kirkjubøur – 15 December 1916 in Kirkjubøur) was a Faroese actress and writer, and the first political feminist in the country, particularly stressing the need for all Faroe Islanders to be able to write and learn Faroese. She also wrote the first play in the Faroese language. Her brothers, Sverri Patursson and Jóannes Patursson, were well-known figures in the Faroese national movement. Biography Helena Patursson was born on 27 August 1864 to Poul Peder Pedersen, a wealthy farmer, and Ellen Cathrine Djonesen. She grew up on Kirkjubøargarður, Kirkjubøur, where she received private lessons with her brothers, Sverri and Jóannes. Later, she went to Copenhagen, where she learned piano and needlework. She worked there as a paralegal until 1904 when she returned to the Faroes. Like her brothers, who were leading figures of the Faroese nationalist revival, Helena Paturson had been an activist since the Christmas Meeting of 1888, where the movement was founded. Her activism was mainly addressed to women. In 1889, she wrote the first play in Faroese, Veðurføst (feminine form of veðurfastur - unable to move from a place because of weather conditions, "weather-stuck"). The play was about women's role in the national awakening and teaching Faroese (which at the time had no official status as a language) at home. Only fragments of the play's manuscript are still preserved. Patursson also wrote in the newspapers Føringatíðindi (Faroe Periodical) and Fuglaframi (Fowl Forth - the Faroese people's furtherance), which belonged to her brothers, Jóannes and Sverre. In Copenhagen, she organised a women's union, and in 1896 she persuaded the Faroese Association there to affiliate with women.