A magnificent new biography of Henrik Ibsen, among the greatest of modern playwrights Henrik Ibsen (1820–1908) is arguably the most important playwright of the nineteenth century. Globally he remains the most performed playwright after Shakespeare, and Hedda Gabler, A Doll’s House, Peer Gynt, and Ghosts are all masterpieces of psychological insight. This is the first full-scale biography to take a literary as well as historical approach to the works, life, and times of Ibsen. Ivo de Figueiredo shows how, as a man, Ibsen was drawn toward authoritarianism, was absolute in his judgments over others, and resisted the ideas of equality and human rights that formed the bases of the emerging democracies in Europe. And yet as an artist, he advanced debates about the modern individual’s freedom and responsibility—and cultivated his own image accordingly. Where other biographies try to show how the artist creates the art, this book reveals how, in Ibsen’s case, the art shaped the artist.

A Doll's House is a three-act play written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. It is a groundbreaking play that explores the themes of marriage, gender roles, and identity in 19th century society. Ibsen's play was met with controversy and outrage due to its bold critique of the traditional roles of men and women in marriage. The play has since become a classic of modern drama and is widely studied and performed in educational institutions around the world. The play is set in Norway and follows the story of Nora Helmer, a seemingly happy and content housewife. However, as the play unfolds, we see that Nora is living a double life. She has secretly borrowed money to save her husband's life, and is now being blackmailed by the lender. The play depicts Nora's struggle to find her true identity and the consequences of living a life based on societal expectations rather than her own desires. One of the main themes explored in the play is the role of women in marriage. Nora is portrayed as a typical 19th century wife, who is expected to be obedient, nurturing, and submissive. However, as the play progresses, we see that Nora is not content with this role and longs for independence and self-discovery. Ibsen challenges the traditional gender roles and shows how society's expectations can suffocate and limit an individual's growth. Another important theme in the play is the concept of identity. Nora's character undergoes a transformation throughout the play as she begins to question her role as a wife and mother. She realizes that she has been living a life that is not truly her own, and she must break free from societal expectations to find her true self. This theme is also reflected in the character of Torvald, Nora's husband, who is more concerned with his social status and reputation than his wife's happiness. Ibsen also uses symbolism throughout the play to convey deeper meanings. The title "A Doll's House" itself is significant, as it represents the idea that women were seen as mere playthings or objects in a patriarchal society. The Christmas tree, a recurring symbol in the play, represents the facade of happy family life that Nora and Torvald try to maintain. However, as the tree begins to shed its decorations, it symbolizes the unraveling of Nora's perfect facade. At the time of its publication, A Doll's House was met with harsh criticism and was deemed scandalous due to its portrayal of a woman challenging societal norms. However, its impact on modern drama cannot be overstated. Ibsen's play paved the way for a new genre of realistic drama and influenced many other playwrights to explore similar themes. It continues to be studied and performed today, as it remains relevant in its critique of societal expectations and the struggle for individual identity.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) is the founder of modern theater, and his plays are performed all over the world. Yet in spite of his unquestioned status as a classic of the stage, Ibsen is often dismissed as a fuddy-duddy old realist, whose plays are of interest only because they remain the gateway to modern theater. In Henrik Ibsen and the Birth of Modernism , Toril Moi makes a powerful case not just for Ibsen's modernity, but for his modernism. Situating Ibsen in his cultural context, she shows how unexpected his rise to world fame was, and the extent of his influence on writers such Shaw, Wilde, and Joyce who were seeking to escape the shackles of Victorianism. Henrik Ibsen and the Birth of Modernism also rewrites nineteenth-century literary history; positioning Ibsen between visual art and philosophy, the book offers a critique of traditional theories of the opposition between realism and modernism. Modernism, Moi argues, arose from the ruins of idealism, the dominant aesthetic paradigm of the nineteenth century. She also shows why Ibsen still matters to us today, by focusing on two major themes-his explorations of women, men, and marriage and his clear-eyed chronicling of the tension between skepticism and the everyday. This radical new account places Ibsen in his rightful place alongside Baudelaire, Flaubert, and Manet as a founder of European modernism.

A biography that provides insight into Henrik Ibsen's personal life, his creative work, and the world in which he lived. It paints the portrait of a complex, emotionally tormented artist - not one who is necessarily likable, but one whom we can understand and appreciate

First published in London under title: Henrik Ibsen.

Here, in a single volume, are four major plays by the first modern playwright, Henrick Ibsen. Ghosts—The startling portrayal of a family destroyed by disease and infidelity. The Wild Duck—A poignant drama of lost illusions. An Enemy Of The People—Ibsen’s vigorous attack on public opinion. And A Doll's House—The play that scandalized the Victorian world with its unsparing views of love and marriage, featuring one of the most controversial heroines—and one of the most famous exists—in the literature of the stage.