Gustafva Björklund (1794–1862) was a Swedish cookery book-author and restaurant owner.

Biography

Björklund was originally from

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

, but moved to Sweden as a child, and worked as a domestic and waitress on several locations. In 1833, she was employed as a waitress at the

gentlemen's club A gentlemen's club is a private social club of a type originally established by males from Britain's upper classes starting in the 17th century. Many countries outside Britain have prominent gentlemen's clubs, mostly those associated with the ...

Lilla Sällskapet Lilla is a female given name, derived from Elizabeth. Given name * Lilla Barzó - a Hungarian tennis player * Lilla Bodor - a Hungarian painter * Lilla Brignone - an Italian film and theater actress * Lilla Cabot Perry - an American artist * Lil ...

'' in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, and when it was dissolved in 1840, she took it over and managed it herself until 1851, during which time it was one of the most popular restaurants for the capital's upper classes. After 1851, she managed more humble establishments, and supported herself by renting out rooms. In 1847, she published her cookery book ''Kokbok'', which became a success and was reprinted in several editions and was followed by additional works in cookery, such as the ''Kok-bok för tjenare och tarfliga hushåll'' (1851). She was referred to as an authority by others in the same field of knowledge in Sweden in the same century. Björklund was described as a beauty. She never married, but had a son, Gustav Reinhold (1817–?) with her employer Otto Reinhold Hammerfeldt, as well as two daughters by unknown fathers: Lovisa Elisabeth (1824–?) and Henrietta Gustava (1825–1886), with the patronymic Karlsson (Issue of Charles). There are indications, such as funds given to her from the royal court, that her daughters' biological father was

Charles XIV John of Sweden Charles XIV John (; 26 January 1763 – 8 March 1844) was King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844 and the first monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. In Norway, he is known as Charles III John () and before he became royalty in ...

.Per Erik Wahlund: Demoiselle - Kokboksutgiverskan och restauratrisen Gustava Björklunds liv och verksamhet, Växjö (?), 1991.

References

Bibliography

* Per Erik Wahlund: ''Demoiselle – Kokboksutgiverskan och restauratrisen Gustava Björklunds liv och verksamhet'', Växjö (?), 1991. 1794 births 1862 deaths 19th-century Swedish women writers Swedish chefs 19th-century Swedish writers Swedish women food writers 19th-century Swedish businesspeople Swedish cookbook writers 19th-century Swedish businesswomen {{Sweden-writer-stub