Product Description

Condemned by British critics in 1890 when it was written, "Hedda Gabler" has since become one of Ibsen's most frequently performed plays. Its title role is elusive and complex: Hedda is an intelligent and ambitious woman, trapped in the stifling environment of a bourgeois 19th-century marriage. When writer Eilert Loevborg, an old flame returns to Hedda's life with a masterpiece that might threaten her husband's career under his arm, Hedda decides to take drastic and fatal action, drawing all in her doomed circle into a catastrophe of her own design. Blending comedy and tragedy together, Ibsen probes the thwarted aspirations and hidden anxieties of his characters against the background of contemporary social conditions and attitudes. Methuen Student Editions are annotated texts of a wide range of plays from the modern and classic repertoires. As well as the complete text of the play itself, the volume contains a chronology of the playwright's life and work, an introduction giving the background to the play; a discussion of the various interpretations; and notes on individual words and phrases.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138833 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-25
• Original language: Norwegian
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 113 pages

About the Author
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright and poet whose realistic, symbolic and often controversial plays revolutionised European theatre. He is widely regarded as the father of modern drama. His acclaimed plays include A Doll's House, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, An Enemy of the People and The Pillars of the Community. His centenary is celebrated in 2006.

Customer Reviews

Perfect for any student
As a student myself, I rate this edition of Ibsen's, "Hedda Gabler" very highly due to its great layout and invaluable commentary. The play itself is gripping, written in a comic style, although essentially a tragedy. For me, the play really came to life after reading the accompanying commentary. Details about all the characters' backgrounds and Ibsen's background help really put the play into context.
I truly recommend this edition to any student who might wish to study the play. I also highly recommend the play in general, as Ibsen's message is powerful in realising the social constraints people were faced with in the late 1800's (does this message still ring true today??).