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A Doll’s House

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( 160,451 ratings, 8,264 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Doll’s House, a classic play by Henrik Ibsen, centres on the life of Nora Helmer who appears to live a perfect middle-class life with her husband, Torvald. Beneath the surface, Nora grapples with societal roles and personal identity, challenging the constraints of marriage and societal expectations. The narrative unfolds as Nora's hidden struggles and decisions come to light, ultimately questioning the balance of power in relationships.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This gripping play might appeal to you if you're intrigued by themes of personal identity, societal expectations, and the pursuit of self-liberation. It offers a critical look at 19th-century gender roles and the constraints they impose, making it both a timeless and thought-provoking read for those interested in arts and culture.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This revised Student Edition of Ibsen’s popular play contains introductory commentary and notes by Sophie Duncan, which offer a contemporary lens on the play's gender politics and consider seminal productions and adaptations of the play into the 21st century.

As well as the complete text of the play itself, this new Methuen Drama Student Edition includes a:

  • Chronology of the play and Ibsen’s life and work
  • Discussion of the social, political, cultural, and economic context in which the play was originally conceived and created
  • Overview of the creation processes followed and performance history of the play, including recent performances such as a 2012 short film adaptation and a stage adaptation set in colonial Calcutta
  • Analysis of some of the major themes and specific issues addressed by the play, such as whether it’s a feminist play and its author a feminist
  • Bibliography of suggested primary and secondary materials for further study

Ibsen's 1879 play shocked its first audiences with its radical insights into the social roles of husband and wife. His portrayal of the caged 'songbird' in his flawed heroine Nora remains one of the most striking dramatic depictions of the late 19th century woman.

A Doll’s House continues to resonate with modern audiences, inviting ongoing discussion and interpretation.

Series: Student Editions

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Henrik Ibsen's play is praised as a pivotal feminist drama that challenged 19th-century norms by suggesting that women could escape the confines of marriage. Critics noted the play's impactful statement on gender equality, exposing the folly of idealism and exploring the nature of modern love. The drama caused a significant stir with its bold suggestion that women should have the same freedom as men to think and live independently.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350116788

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 October 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Methuen Drama

Edition: 3rd edition

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Meyer
  • Volume editor Sophie Duncan

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 196.0mm

Height: 128.0mm

Weight: 130g

Pages: 136

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.

Sophie Duncan is a Fellow of Christ Church, University of Oxford. She received her DPhil from Brasenose College, Oxford, where she was Senior Hulme Scholar, in 2013. She then became Stipendiary Lecturer at St Catherine’s and Supernumerary Fellow in English at Harris Manchester College, before returning to full-time research at Magdalen. She has been a guest lecturer at King’s College London and the Bread Loaf School of English. In 2013, she became Editor of Victorian Network. Her research includes longstanding links with the world of professional theatre, and she works regularly as a historical advisor/dramaturg in theatre, television, radio and film. Her publications include Shakespeare’s Women and the Fin de Siècle (Oxford University Press) and she has published on the African American actor Ira Aldridge, the bibliographical history of Oscar Wilde, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897).

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