Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright, widely regarded as the father of modern drama and one of the greatest playwrights since Shakespeare. His bold, realistic plays confronted the hypocrisies and injustices of respectable society, sparking scandal in his day and transforming theatre forever.
His major plays include A Doll's House, whose heroine famously walks out on her husband and children to find herself; Hedda Gabler, a study of a brilliant, trapped woman; Ghosts, which shattered Victorian taboos; and the epic poetic dramas Peer Gynt and Brand. Ibsen brought serious moral and psychological questions — about marriage, duty, truth, and individual freedom — onto the stage with unprecedented honesty.
Working from Norway and years of self-imposed exile, Ibsen challenged his audiences to examine their own lives and society, and his influence on modern theatre is profound.
His dialogue is clear and powerful. Our editions present his plays cleanly. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Henrik Ibsen in the library · 3 works
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Frequently asked questions about Henrik Ibsen
What did Henrik Ibsen write?
Ibsen wrote plays. His most famous are A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, and the epic poetic dramas Peer Gynt and Brand. A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler are among the most performed and studied plays in the world.
What is A Doll's House about?
It follows Nora Helmer, a wife treated like a decorative 'doll' by her controlling husband, who has secretly taken a risky loan to save his life. When the truth threatens to emerge, Nora realises how little her marriage and society truly value her, and in a famous, shocking ending, she walks out to seek her own identity. It became a landmark statement on marriage and women's freedom.
Why is Ibsen called the father of modern drama?
Ibsen broke from the artificial melodrama of his day to write serious, realistic plays about ordinary middle-class people facing genuine moral and social problems — marriage, hypocrisy, disease, individual freedom. He treated the theatre as a place for honest examination of life, influencing every serious playwright who followed, from Chekhov to Arthur Miller. This revolution earned him the title 'father of modern drama.'
Where should I start with Ibsen?
A Doll's House is the ideal starting point — his most famous play, gripping, accessible, and still powerful. Hedda Gabler and Ghosts are strong next choices. For his earlier, more poetic work, Peer Gynt is remarkable but more challenging. Begin with A Doll's House.
Were Ibsen's plays controversial?
Very — plays like A Doll's House and Ghosts scandalised Victorian audiences by openly addressing subjects like women's independence, unhappy marriage, and disease that polite society preferred to ignore. Ghosts in particular caused an uproar. That willingness to confront uncomfortable truths is exactly what made Ibsen revolutionary.
When did Henrik Ibsen live?
Ibsen lived from 1828 to 1906 in Norway, though he spent many years abroad in Italy and Germany. He wrote his most famous realist plays, including A Doll's House (1879), Ghosts (1881), and Hedda Gabler (1890), in the later part of his career. He is considered one of the greatest of all playwrights.
Where can I read Ibsen for free?
Ibsen's plays are in the public domain, and older translations are freely available. Some feel dated. Here you can read the opening free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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