Senter for Ibsen-studier
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Cultural resources in Ibsen's early environment

The materials on this website are © copyrighted, and are for the use of individuals and educational institutions only. Any commercial use requires the permission of the compiler & translator, Philip E. Larson.
 

    The book is based both on traditional literary and historical research and on field research in the two Norwegian towns where Henrik Ibsen grew up. The first chapter deals with Ibsen’s childhood in Skien, and with his earliest creative efforts; the second chapter covers his first four years as a pharmacist’s apprentice in Grimstad, and includes a consideration of his earliest surviving lyric poems. The third chapter deals with the sources and composition of his first play, Catilina. The fourth and final chapter covers Ibsen´s last year in Grimstad (April 1849 to April 1850). Integrated with the book is a 500-page website of materials intended to supplement the standard literary and historical sources already available.

A. INTRODUCTION.

The early years of a poet's life are important for his or her education, and for establishing the form and direction his or her talent will take. Therefore it would be valuable to know as much as possible about Ibsen's early years, especially as regards the character and quality of his surroundings. It is unlikely that he could have reached the heights of intellectual and artistic achievement that he attained in his maturity unless his surroundings in his early years had offered him significant cultural resources. What were these resources?

This database provides at least a partial answer to that question in that it presents the results of field research in the two small towns where Ibsen lived as he was growing up. The database includes lists of plays that were performed in his area by travelling Danish theatre companies, and lists of books that were available in collections to which he possibly, probably, or certainly had access. English translations of several Danish and Norwegian plays that were performed in his area are included, plus a few examples of contemporary journalistic writing, excerpts from a history of Gjerpen parish by Terje Christiansen, and most of a memoir published in 1909 by Christopher Due, who had been a friend of Ibsen's in Grimstad. Some of Ibsen's earliest writings in poetry and prose that have never before been translated into English are also included. A bibliography of Ibsen scholarship that covers the years 1828-1850 is also supplied.

The full contents of any file can be downloaded. Simply click on the highlighted and underlined word or phrase in each title. Questions or comments may be addressed to Philip E. Larson, at pelarson@earthlink.net

B. SKIEN.

C. GRIMSTAD.

D. BIBLIOGRAPHY.