An Enemy of the People

By Henrik Ibsen

Widely regarded as one of the foremost dramatists of the nineteenth century, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) brought the social problems and ideas of his day to center stage. Creating realistic plays of psychological conflict that emphasized character over cunning plots, he frequently inspired critical objections because his dramas deemed the individual more important than the group.
In this powerful work, Ibsen places his main characters, Dr. Thomas Stockman, in the role of an enlightened and persecuted minority of one confronting an ignorant, powerful majority. When the physician learns that the famous and financially successful baths in his hometown are contaminated, he insists they be shut down for expensive repairs. For his honesty, he is persecuted, ridiculed, and declared an "enemy of the people" by the townspeople, included some who have been his closest allies.
First staged in 1883, An Enemy of the People remains one of the most frequently performed plays by a writer considered by many the "father of modern drama." This easily affordable edition makes available to students, teachers, and general readers a major work by one of the world's great playwrights.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Mar 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9780486111797

Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright who thrived during the late nineteenth century. He began his professional career at age 15 as a pharmacist’s apprentice. He would spend his free time writing plays, publishing his first work Catilina in 1850, followed by The Burial Mound that same year. He eventually earned a position as a theatre director and began producing his own material. Ibsen’s prolific catalogue is noted for depicting modern and real topics. His major titles include Brand, Peer Gynt and Hedda Gabler.

Reviews for An Enemy of the People

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Sterkste maatschappelijke toneelstuk van IbsenThema: -dubieuze democratie-manipulatie in naam van publieke opinie-ideaal en eigenbelangOp eind te moraliserend

[zangasta · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Having once seen a snippet of Steve McQueen play the main role in a movie adaptation An Enemy of the People, for a long time I wanted to read this.Boy was I disappointed when I did! The bit I recall McQueen speaking wasn't even in this, the original.Yuck!

[leslie398 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amazingly relevant to 2020 America!

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A truly magnificent play. The speeches by Dr. Stockmann in Act 4 were simply brilliant. I was worried in Act 5 that the play would turn into tragedy and Dr. Stockmann would sell his soul to the devil. Instead, his heroism increased tenfold. A beautifully written -- not predictable, unexpected and truly the stuff that plays should be made of.