Four Major Plays: Doll's House; Ghosts; Hedda Gabler; and The Master Builder (Oxford World's Classics)
Product ID: 3505941
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Taken from the highly acclaimed Oxford Ibsen, this collection of Ibsen's plays includes A Doll's House , Ghosts , Hedda Gabler , and The Master Builder . About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. Review: behind the scenes - After the forced closing of the London theaters by the Puritans in 1642, serious drama in Europe entered a long decline. Despite occasional bright spots--French Neoclassicism, the German Enlightenment--it wasn't until the Victorian Era that a new style of realistic drama emerged, ironically, in Scandinavia and Russia, far from the traditional centers of European high culture. Beginning in 1850 Henrik Ibsen wrote a series of iconoclastic plays that challenged society's taboos and exposed its hypocrisy, while creating larger-than-life characters faced with agonizing ethical dilemmas. Like Shakespeare, Ibsen perhaps is better appreciated on the page than on the stage. With Ibsen, subtext is everything. Taken at face value, his plots can seem absurdly melodramatic, his characters unconvincing, his dialogue trite. You have to learn to read between the lines. Actors often flounder amid Ibsen's characters' nuances, while directors are more interested in making a statement than interpreting the author faithfully. "Hedda Gabler," the longest and most complicated play in this edition, in particular requires repeated readings. Its truly frightful heroine is a latter-day Medea or Lady Macbeth, who resorts to suicide when her nefarious schemes come to naught. "A Doll's House" and "Ghosts" both expose family secrets and hidden passions, while "The Master Builder" is a semiautobiographical tale of an aging artist whose fear of being supplanted by the younger generation leads to a disastrous flirtation with a young admirer who resembles nothing so much as an older Pippi Longstocking. Ibsen's dialogue is akin to the sticomathia of Greek tragedy, bristling with truly Sophoclean irony. If his plots lack Shakespeare's blood and thunder, his characters' inner turmoil is just as real. Sometimes they make the right decision, more often the wrong one, but with Ibsen it all boils down to personal accountability and taking responsibility for ones actions--or inactions. He demands high standards from both his characters and audience. The Oxford Ibsen translation by James McFarlane and Jens Arup is clear and readable. In "Hedda Gabler" they change the obtuse husband's catchphrase, usually translated as "Fancy that!" to "Just think of it!" This edition makes Ibsen as powerful and immediate as he was to his contemporaries. Review: Exactly as described, prompt delivery - Arrived in good time for the academic year and exactly the version required. Easy ordering, faultless delivery 👌
| Best Sellers Rank | #501,724 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #32 in European Literature (Books) #68 in Drama Literary Criticism #220 in European Dramas & Plays |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 396 Reviews |
H**E
behind the scenes
After the forced closing of the London theaters by the Puritans in 1642, serious drama in Europe entered a long decline. Despite occasional bright spots--French Neoclassicism, the German Enlightenment--it wasn't until the Victorian Era that a new style of realistic drama emerged, ironically, in Scandinavia and Russia, far from the traditional centers of European high culture. Beginning in 1850 Henrik Ibsen wrote a series of iconoclastic plays that challenged society's taboos and exposed its hypocrisy, while creating larger-than-life characters faced with agonizing ethical dilemmas. Like Shakespeare, Ibsen perhaps is better appreciated on the page than on the stage. With Ibsen, subtext is everything. Taken at face value, his plots can seem absurdly melodramatic, his characters unconvincing, his dialogue trite. You have to learn to read between the lines. Actors often flounder amid Ibsen's characters' nuances, while directors are more interested in making a statement than interpreting the author faithfully. "Hedda Gabler," the longest and most complicated play in this edition, in particular requires repeated readings. Its truly frightful heroine is a latter-day Medea or Lady Macbeth, who resorts to suicide when her nefarious schemes come to naught. "A Doll's House" and "Ghosts" both expose family secrets and hidden passions, while "The Master Builder" is a semiautobiographical tale of an aging artist whose fear of being supplanted by the younger generation leads to a disastrous flirtation with a young admirer who resembles nothing so much as an older Pippi Longstocking. Ibsen's dialogue is akin to the sticomathia of Greek tragedy, bristling with truly Sophoclean irony. If his plots lack Shakespeare's blood and thunder, his characters' inner turmoil is just as real. Sometimes they make the right decision, more often the wrong one, but with Ibsen it all boils down to personal accountability and taking responsibility for ones actions--or inactions. He demands high standards from both his characters and audience. The Oxford Ibsen translation by James McFarlane and Jens Arup is clear and readable. In "Hedda Gabler" they change the obtuse husband's catchphrase, usually translated as "Fancy that!" to "Just think of it!" This edition makes Ibsen as powerful and immediate as he was to his contemporaries.
A**R
Exactly as described, prompt delivery
Arrived in good time for the academic year and exactly the version required. Easy ordering, faultless delivery 👌
J**M
Great Purchase.
I am very pleased with the purchase and the timely manner in which the book came. It arrived just in time for the beginning of the semester and was in great condition. Also, I appreciated the fact that the book was as described.
K**A
Four Stars
Gave as gift.
J**0
Excellent
I bought this to read the master builder. It's a great play, I highly recommend Ibsen. oxford world classics makes good quality books.
N**D
Henrik Ibsen
I have always wanted to read some of his works, didn't do it in HS. The book was in very good condition and easy to read.
B**R
A Dolls House
Dolls House is a reminder of Breaking Bad television series, except with switch on the protagonist. good for wanting to hear about the ignorant yet caring and oppressed wife.
G**C
These plays, especially the Doll's House, are still ...
These plays, especially the Doll's House, are still relevant today. They are very interesting to read again and realize what a shock they were to Europe at that time in history.
A**Z
Muy digna edicion
Muy recomendable
W**S
Buy this to restore moulded fibreglass chairs
Perfect for restoring midcentury modern (MCM) moulded fibreglass chairs. Covered all the scratches and gave it a nice sheen and a protective coating that should keep them in shape for another 50 years!
W**R
A must read for lovers of works for the stage
A must read for lovers of works for the stage. Socially aware works and still relevant today
A**A
Loving it💙
Very nice book.Just awesome.More than the expectation.Just loving it.Must buy it.
R**I
Four major plays
These four plays are masterpieces. Don’t waste your time thinking. Just buy it immediately.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
2 months ago