Ibsen, Scandinavia and the Making of a World Drama

Reveals the processes by which Ibsen's drama, while firmly rooted in his Scandinavian origins, was appropriated by other European traditions.

Narve Fulsås (Author), Tore Rem (Author)

9781316638293, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 May 2019

292 pages
23 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.5 kg

'In this exceptionally informative study, Fulsås and Rem map the remarkable ascending trajectory of Scandinavian literature in general and of Henrik Ibsen in particular that began in the pivotal year 1850 and reached its zenith in the closing decade of the nineteenth century. Recommended.' Choice

Henrik Ibsen's drama is the most prominent and lasting contribution of the cultural surge seen in Scandinavian literature in the later nineteenth century. When he made his debut in Norway in 1850, the nation's literary presence was negligible, yet by 1890 Ibsen had become one of Europe's most famous authors. Contrary to the standard narrative of his move from restrictive provincial origins to liberating European exile, Narve Fulsås and Tore Rem show how Ibsen's trajectory was preconditioned on his continued embeddedness in Scandinavian society and culture, and that he experienced great success in his home markets. This volume traces how Ibsen's works first travelled outside Scandinavia and studies the mechanisms of his appropriation in Germany, Britain and France. Engaging with theories of book dissemination and world literature, and re-assessing the emergence of 'peripheral' literary nations, this book provides new perspectives on the work of this major figure of European literature and theatre.

Introduction
1. From stage to page
2. No escape
3. Open futures
4. Nora's exit
5. The sphinx
6. European breakthrough
7. Copyright and circulation
8. The many Ibsens
9. The provincial world poet.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], Literature: history & criticism [DS]