Four Plays: A Doll's House: Hedda Gabler; Peer Gynt; The Master Builder

WithanIntroductionbyEllenRees,CentreforIbsenStudies,UniversityofOslo.TheplaysofNorwegiandramatistHenrikIbsen(1828-1906)arecriticallyacclaimedthroughouttheworld.Thefatherofmoderndrama,Ibsenbrokewiththeatricalconventionsandcreatedamorerealisticformofdramathatusedthestageasaforumfordebatingsocialproblems,notablytherightsoftheindividual,andthedamagingeffectsoforthodoxy.Thiscollectionoffourplayscontains,ADoll'sHouse(1879)andHeddaGabler(1890),hismoststrikingdepictionsofthestrugglebyindividualsâespeciallywomenâtorealizetheirfullpotential;italsopresentsPeerGynt(1867),anearlyversetour-de-force,notoriginallyintendedforthestage,onthenatureoftheself,andTheMasterBuilder(1892),aplaythatexplorestheclashbetweentheoldandthenewinrichlymetaphoricallanguage.ThiscollectionreturnstotheacclaimedtranslationsofWilliamArcher(1856-1924),whothroughtheserenditionsplayedamajorroleinpromotingIbsen'sreputationoutsideNorway.Archerwasalsoacritic,whowithactressElizabethRobbinsanddramatistGeorgeBernardShawwascentralinthemodernisationofEnglishtheatre.