Ellen Key Ellen Karolina Sofia Key was born in Västervik, Sweden, in 1849 to Emil Key and Sophie Posse Key. She grew up in an intellectually active household that nurtured her curiosity and moral independence. Educated through the Rossander Course in Stockholm she developed a lifelong interest in education, ethics, and social reform. Key emerged as one of Sweden's most influential thinkers during the Modern Breakthrough movement, advocating for a child-centered approach to learning that emphasized individuality, creativity, and emotional development. Her writings on family life and motherhood promoted the idea of education as a moral and spiritual foundation for society. As a suffragist and social critic, she argued for the intellectual and civic equality of women while preserving the distinctiveness of their social and emotional roles. Key's major works, including The Century of the Child, reflect her vision of a more humane, progressive world shaped by empathy and self-cultivation. She spent her later years at Strand, her home near Omberg, which became a center for intellectual and artistic gatherings. Ellen Key died in 1926, leaving a legacy that continues to influence modern educational philosophy and feminist thought. Read More Read Less