The three plays in this volume all deal with the moral courage needed to tell the truth. They are peopled by complex individuals pitted against, or part, of a society that Ibsen felt was morally abhorrent.

'The Wild Duck' is an unsettling play of profound, keen psychology and absolute truth. Gregers Werle is an uncompromising idealist, and invites himself into the house of Hjalmar Ekdal, his childhood friend. His intention is to free the Ekdal family from the mesh of lies on which their contented lives are based. But Gregers drowns the family even as he is trying to raise them up, his well-meaning investigations shredding the lies they have told themselves in order to live. 'The Wild Duck' was published in 1884 and premiered in 1885 at Bergen in Norway. This version, translated by Michael Meyer, was first performed in 1963 at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

An Enemy of the People, a powerful play by Henrik Ibsen, tackles the complexities of truth, morality, and the struggle between individual conviction and societal pressure. Set in a small Norwegian town, the narrative follows Dr. Stockmann, a principled physician who discovers that the local baths, a vital source of income for the community, are contaminated. As he seeks to reveal the truth, he finds himself at odds with the very people he aims to protect. Ibsen's masterful exploration of themes such as integrity, corruption, and the consequences of speaking out against the majority presents a compelling reflection on the human condition. An Enemy of the People delves into the moral dilemmas faced by individuals when confronting public opinion and the fear of ostracism. The tension escalates as Dr. Stockmann's moral stance puts him in direct conflict with his friends, family, and the townspeople, who prioritize economic prosperity over ethical responsibility. This thought-provoking play is a timeless examination of the cost of truth and the challenges faced by those who dare to challenge the status quo. Ibsen's incisive dialogue and rich character development invite readers to engage in a dialogue about civic duty, ethical leadership, and the role of dissent in society. As the story unfolds, the audience is compelled to consider what it means to be an enemy of the people when one stands for what is right. Readers are drawn to An Enemy of the People for its relevance to contemporary social and political issues. This play is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of ethics and politics, as well as the enduring power of individual conviction. Owning a copy of An Enemy of the People is not just about literature; it’s about embracing the courage to speak out and the importance of standing firm in one’s beliefs.

Edited and translated by Kai Jurgensen and Robert Schenkkan, this edition of The Wild Duck for performance and study has been translated by John Simon and features a sixteen-page introduction, a list of principal dates in the life of Ibsen, and a selected bibliography.

A Penguin Classic When Dr. Stockmann discovers that the water in the small Norwegian town in which he is the resident physician has been contaminated, he does what any responsible citizen would do: reports it to the authorities. But Stockmann's good deed has the potential to ruin the town's reputation as a popular spa destination, and instead of being hailed as a hero, Stockmann is labeled an enemy of the people. Arthur Miller's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic drama is a classic in itself, a penetrating exploration of what happens when the truth comes up against the will of the majority. This edition includes Arthur Miller’s preface and an introduction by John Guare. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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.