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A Doll's House and Other Plays
A Doll's House and Other Plays | Henrik Ibsen
5 posts | 11 read | 6 to read
Four of Ibsen's most important plays in superb modern translations, part of the new Penguin Ibsen series. With her assertion that she is 'first and foremost a human being', Nora Helmer sent shockwaves throughout Europe when she appeared in Ibsen's greatest and most famous play, A Doll's House. Depicting one woman's struggle to be treated as a rational human being, and not merely a wife, mother or fragile doll, the play changed the course of theatrical history and sparked debates worldwide about the roles of men and women in society. Ibsen's follow-up Ghosts was no less radical, with its unrelenting investigation into religious hypocrisy, family secrets and sexual double-dealing. These two masterpieces are accompanied here by The Pillars of Society and An Enemy of the People, both set in Norwegian coastal towns and exploring the tensions and dark compromises at the heart of society. The new Penguin series of Ibsen's major plays offer the best available editions in English, under the general editorship of Tore Rem. All the plays have been freshly translated by the best modern translators and are based on the recently published, definitive Norwegian edition of Ibsen's works. They include new introductions and editorial apparatus by leading scholars.
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review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

I never read plays but it‘s fun! The description of the decor, the speed with which a whole plot needs to be finished within time limits. And the characters, setting and timeframe are great, especially in A Doll House. Thanks for sending me this one @CarolynM 🩷

CarolynM 😘 3mo
KarenUK I saw The Doll‘s house in NYC this year, and it blew me away, then went on to read it. You‘re so right, I should read more! 3mo
BarbaraBB @KarenUK I had no idea it would be so fun. How cool that you went to see the play! 3mo
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BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 51/23

Ambitious plans but the holidays are on their way and hopefully time to read a lot! I am reading The Rise and Fall of Great Powers but having a hard time getting the hang of it. I also started Idlewild for #LitsyToB24 which is super promising. Next will be the tagged and I also hope to read this gorgeous edition of Murakami‘s Sputnik Sweetheart.

Megabooks I think Rachman is a difficult author to parse. I have not read that one but I‘ve only enjoyed his latest of the others I‘ve tried, and it was…weird. Can‘t wait to see what you finish on vacation!! 3mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I agree he‘s a difficult author. I haven‘t read The Imposters. I didn‘t care much for The Italian Teacher but enjoyed 3mo
squirrelbrain Love that Murakami cover! ❤️ 3mo
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LiteraryHoarderPenny The Rise and Fall is probably the best Rachman for me. The others not so much. 😊 but I still need to read The Imperfectionists. 3mo
BarbaraBB @LiteraryHoarderPenny That is encouraging! I can really recommend The Imperfectionst! 3mo
LiteraryHoarderPenny @BarbaraBB great! Thanks Barbara! 3mo
58 likes6 comments
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vivastory
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There are a few recurring themes running throughout the four plays in this collection: illusions, ideals & people who are manipulated by ideologies, long held secrets & the complex nature of truth. In Ibsen's work, one aspect of truth is for it to be seen as a force of self-actualization as in the title work when Nora is forced to confront her past & her marriage after seeing her husband's reaction to a secret. The collection is bookended by

vivastory Pillars & Enemy of the People, where revealing the truth to the wider community has drastically opposite effects for the characters & for the community as a whole. Every play features scenes of dramatic intensity that are wonderful to read, Ibsen had a strong influence on novelists & reading his plays I can see why, with their memorable & realized characters. Absolutely wonderful. A bracing tonic for our ideological era. (edited) 1y
youneverarrived Great review 🙌 1y
vivastory @youneverarrived Thanks, Katie! I hope you are doing well. 1y
batsy Fab review! I love your enthusiasm. Definitely gotta read Ibsen. 1y
vivastory @batsy Thanks! I think you'd appreciate his work. 1y
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vivastory
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I've read an Ibsen play a day since Wednesday. He's incredible. The title piece is one of the best dramatic works I've ever read. Period. The other two plays had many elements/themes/passages to recommend them. I just finished Ghosts & the ending gave me existential chills.

LeahBergen Love the cover painting! 1y
vivastory @LeahBergen Me too! It's a Munch painting 1y
Leftcoastzen He‘s amazing. 1y
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BarbaraBB I have never read him but I stacked now. It sounds fantastic. And that Munch ❤️ 1y
batsy What @BarbaraBB said! The cover is so haunting. 1y
Kimberlone I saw a stage production of this play once. So dark!! 1y
TheBookHippie Favorite of mine!!!! 1y
vivastory @Leftcoastzen Do you have a favorite? 1y
vivastory @BarbaraBB @batsy I *think* that Penguin used Munch paintings for their recent reissues of his works. They look great though 1y
vivastory @Kimberlone I will def be on the lookout for any productions of his work here. 1y
vivastory @TheBookHippie I will def be reading more! 1y
Leftcoastzen @vivastory not really, they are all so good! 1y
vivastory @Leftcoastzen I can see that. I'd probably say that Doll's House was my favorite of the 4 in this collection but the other 3 were very very strong. 1y
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BiblioLitten
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#juneinbooks18 Foreign Authors You Love
I'm so glad I got to read Ibsen a decade back. My favourite play is Ghosts. I also enjoyed reading-A Doll's House, An Enemy of the People, and Hedda Gabler. #norway

ladym30 Like the cover! 6y
batsy Ooh! I need to read this! 6y
BiblioLitten @batsy I'm sure you'll love it. 💓 I love the penguin edition too. Their introduction is very interesting. I love how the climate and hereditary become relevant themes in the plays, esp Ghosts 6y
batsy Yes, I love the Penguin Classics editions for their intros and supplementary notes 🖤 6y
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