This is a difficult review -- I think that this biography is essential reading for both students of theatre and of Scandinavian history -- however, despite a fascinating topic, Ferguson's style is plodding and slow.

Found this in my bookshelf when looking for Ibsen's collected for on of my daughters. Good, mostly based on correspondence, traditional chronological discussion, underscores Ibsen's very secluded nature and tendency to write himself into every play. Not to mention his love-hate relationship with his home country, keen eye on sales figures, vanity, callousness towards his family and monomanical focus on his work. Not a very pleasant man - all his humanity came out in his plays, apparently.