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Ibsen's Kingdom: The Man and His Works 2021
Ibsen's Kingdom: The Man and His Works is a 2021 publication by Yale University Press, written by Evert M. Sprinchorn (1923–2022), an American scholar specializing in Scandinavian literature. The book explores the life and literary output of Henrik Ibsen through a biographical lens, presenting a reading of his plays as reflective of his personal experiences. At the time of its release, Sprinchorn was 98.
Norwegian Ibsen experts have offered criticism, especially from Ellen Rees, who claims it reinforces outdated myths about Ibsen. Helge Rønning noted that the work functions more as an imaginative interpretation of Ibsen’s plays rather than a traditional biography. Some recent Ibsen scholars have questioned Sprinchorn's method of drawing biographical elements from the plays themselves. Still, Eivind Tjønneland defended the book, stating that for readers interested in Ibsen's writing, Sprinchorn’s approach is more engaging than Michael Meyer’s work. He also emphasized that Sprinchorn’s knowledge of literary history surpasses that of Ivo de Figueiredo and Sverre Mørkhagen, who have recently authored the two latest Norwegian Ibsen biographies. Furthermore, Tjønneland pointed out that without a background in drama, one would not be drawn to read an Ibsen biography at all. The book received positive feedback from American scholars.
Details
- Publisher
- Yale University Press
- Pages
- 704
