Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke ( ; 17 April 1885 -- 7 September 1962 ) , '' née '' Karen Christenze Dinesen , was a Danish author also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen .
Karen von Blixen-Finecke ( 17 April 1885 -- 7 September 1962 ) , '' née '' Karen Christenze Dinesen , was a Danish author also known under her pen name Isak Dinesen .