Annette Abigael Hamilton

Annette Abigael Hamilton (1806–1879) born Palm was a Norwegian fairy-tale collector and author.^[1] She was born in Fredrikshald (Halden) and was the daughter of captain Hans Christian Palm and Anne Samuelsen.^[1] She married captain Wilhelm Hamilton who also was a publisher.^[1] She was also an actress at the dramatic society of Halden.^[1]

Hamilton was an eager participant in the dramatic society in Fredrikshald (Halden) and in 1847 her fairy tale collection was published by her husband's publishing company.^[1][2] The book was published in 1847 at a time when the dramatic society was active.^[2] As a fairy-tale author she is counted as one of the Norwegian pioneers of this literary genre.^[2] Her pen name was Abigail and a pseudonym for A. A. Hamilton.^[3][4][5]

The fairy-tale collection was called Abigaels Eventyr og Sagn. Gave for Børn (Abigaels Fairy Tales and Legends. Gift for Children.).^[6][7] It is one of the first fairy-tale collections in Norway.^[1] The book was sold by J. W. Cappelen.^[8] Several of the fairy-tales are Norwegian folk tales and the tale on page 34 is classified as AA-TH types 1525R-1653B.^[9] The tale on page 24-29 is classified as AA-TH type 513 which in English is called The Land and Water Ship.^[9] The collection is built on models found outside Norway at the time.^[2] Some of the tales are strongly edited and some are her literary creations. Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fairy-tales, 7 is loose motifs from legends and folk tales and nr 8-12 are supposed to be her literary creations.^[4][5]

Bibliography

• Abigaels Eventyr og Sagn. Gave for Børn. Frederikshald, Hamilton, 1847.^[7]