Carmen Sylva (Queen Elisabeth of Romania): A Trans-National Writer

Abstract Elisabeth of Neuwied (1843-1916) was the first Queen of Romania and the wife of Charles I Hollenzolern-Sigmaringen. As a writer she is known under the name of Carmen Sylva. The Queen was a very active and gifted personality but one of her main interests was literature. This article focuses on Carmen Sylva’s literary position as a writer who rejected narrow nationalism although her public position obliged her to impersonate Romanian values while integrating them into an Occident all too eager to spread all over the place. Carmen Sylva is an interesting case of a European trans-national literary identity.