Kerstin Hesselgren was one of the first five women to take a seat in the Swedish parliament, and also a pioneer in many other fields. We now publish the first comprehensive biography of her life and work, written by Anders Johnson.
Kerstin Hesselgren (1872–1962) was the foremost woman in Swedish politics and public administration before 1945. She was one of the first five women to take a seat in the Swedish parliament, and also a pioneer in many other fields, not least as state vocational inspector . As the daughter of a general and provincial doctor in Hofors in Gästrikland, she early came into contact with living conditions within various social groups and decided to work to eliminate factors that threatened people’s health, for example in terms of diet, lifestyle, housing and workplaces. Her diligent work, knowledge and not least her social competence contributed to her becoming a strong social liberal voice to be reckoned with, both in Sweden and internationally.
All of this is described in Kerstin Hesselgren – hälsovårdsapostel och riksdagspionjär (Business History Publishing, 2023; title loosely translated as “Kerstin Hesselgren – healthcare apostle and parliamentary pioneer”), a new biography from author and business historian Anders Johnson. His biography is the first to span Kerstin Hesselgren’s entire life and work.
The book begins with a foreword by the doctor, former director general and Member of Parliament Barbro Westerholm, who unfortunately passed away just before the book was published.
The book is available to buy in our bookstore or where books are sold from 9 May.
About the author
Anders Johnson has earlier – among many things – written a biography about the reform educator and suffrage leader Anna Whitlock, who in addition also was Kerstin Hesselgren’s mentor.
