Ibsen and Hitler: The Playwright, the Plagiarist, and the Plot for the Third Reich

by Steven F. Sage

Steven Sage, research fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, reveals that among Hitler’s first crimes was a theft of intellectual property, until now unexamined. Sage illuminates an influence impelling Hitler’s master his culling of language and phrasing from one of Europe’s greatest writers, Henrik Ibsen. The traces of this uncredited borrowing are found in the Führer’s incendiary utterances, and in Mein Kampf. Indeed, Sage shows that the blueprint for the Third Reich was scripted from a trio of works by Henrik Ibsen who had a cult following in 1920s Germany. The author unveils a historical stunner that has been hiding in plain sight for decades, letting readers connect the dots with him through every step of an unprecedented historical and literary examination.

Genres: History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Dr. Steven F. Sage (Chinese: 史蒂文) is a former U.S. diplomat and a former research fellow at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is the author of Ancient Sichuan and the Unification of China (SUNY Press, 1992) and Ibsen and Hitler (Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2006). Among other honors, he holds the position of Senior Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts. Sage lives with his wife in Rockville, Maryland.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's one for the conspiracy theorists: Hitler was simply acting out Ibsen's drama. Steven Sage makes an interesting case, but I'm not convinced. I'm inclined to think that the 3rd Reich was the activation of extremely negative impulses embedded throughout European culture and Sage has hit on some startling coincidences to Ibsen's plotlines in the way that others have recognized Wagner's leitmotivs. I enjoyed the book, but only as I enjoy science fiction. I'm not going to line my cap with tinfoil.

[Greg]

I do not have the expertise to truly evaluate Sage's thesis. He argues that Hitler used 3 plays by Ibsen as guiding scripts for his Third Reich. The book is a fascinating attempt. Sometimes the connections that Sage asserts do not seem convincing to me. There is no doubt he is a true believer. His credentials and his detailed research are enough to make us take his thesis seriously. However, he undermines his case with rhetorical flourishes that come across to me as "he protests too much." I learned a lot of detail about Hitler and an obscure Ibsen play.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out slow in the beginning. Very interesting book and premise.

[CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing topic and an impulse acquisition.