author
freiherrin von Pauline Hügel
1858–1901
An Austrian-born aristocrat who chose a life of faith and charity, she became known in England for her religious writing and generous work among the poor. Her best-known book, A Royal Son and Mother, reflects the warm, devotional tone that shaped both her writing and her life.
1 Audiobook
A royal son and mother
by freiherrin von Pauline Hügel
About the author
Born in Florence in 1858, Baroness Pauline von Hügel was the daughter of the diplomat and explorer Charles von Hügel and the sister of the religious writer Friedrich von Hügel. After her father's death, she lived with her mother in Bournemouth and Boscombe in southern England, where she became known for her charitable work and deep Catholic devotion.
Rather than staying within the comforts of aristocratic society, she devoted much of her energy to helping others. She is remembered as a benefactress and is closely associated with the founding of Corpus Christi Church in Boscombe, a sign of how strongly her religious convictions shaped her public life.
She also wrote devotional works, including A Royal Son and Mother. Though she died relatively young in 1901, her reputation has endured as that of a pious, generous writer whose faith was closely tied to practical acts of kindness.