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