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Henrik Ibsen: Mennesket og masken
En væsentlig biografi om en af Nordens største forfattere, kendt som grundlæggeren af det moderne drama, er nu tilgængelig på dansk.
Bogen fortæller om Henrik Ibsens liv fra han fødes i Skien i 1828, til han dør i Kristiania i 1906. Ivo de Figueiredos biografi er den første omfattende skildring af Ibsen, og både litterært og historisk tager bogen fat på Ibsens liv. De Figueiredo viser, hvordan mennesket Henrik Ibsen var tiltrukket af autoritarismen, var absolut i sin vurdering af andre og gik imod ideerne om lighed og menneskerettigheder, der dannede grobunden for de spirende demokratier i Europa. Alligevel provokerede han som kunstner til diskussion om samtidsmenneskets individuelle frihed og ansvar - og røgtede sideløbende sit eget image. Bogen graver dybt i kendte og nyopdagede kilder og viser, hvordan myterne om Ibsen i sig selv har skabt deres egen virkelighed - hvordan mennesket Ibsen er smeltet sammen med masken Ibsen - og knap nok lader sig skille. Bogen giver et spændende indblik i et kompliceret forfatterliv. Ibsen er indiskutabelt den største dramatiker i det 19. århundrede, og på verdensplan er han næst efter Shakespeare den mest opførte skuespilforfatter.
Bogen fortæller om Henrik Ibsens liv fra han fødes i Skien i 1828, til han dør i Kristiania i 1906. Ivo de Figueiredos biografi er den første omfattende skildring af Ibsen, og både litterært og historisk tager bogen fat på Ibsens liv. De Figueiredo viser, hvordan mennesket Henrik Ibsen var tiltrukket af autoritarismen, var absolut i sin vurdering af andre og gik imod ideerne om lighed og menneskerettigheder, der dannede grobunden for de spirende demokratier i Europa. Alligevel provokerede han som kunstner til diskussion om samtidsmenneskets individuelle frihed og ansvar - og røgtede sideløbende sit eget image. Bogen graver dybt i kendte og nyopdagede kilder og viser, hvordan myterne om Ibsen i sig selv har skabt deres egen virkelighed - hvordan mennesket Ibsen er smeltet sammen med masken Ibsen - og knap nok lader sig skille. Bogen giver et spændende indblik i et kompliceret forfatterliv. Ibsen er indiskutabelt den største dramatiker i det 19. århundrede, og på verdensplan er han næst efter Shakespeare den mest opførte skuespilforfatter.
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First published April 2, 2019
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About the author
Ivo de Figueiredo
11 books7 followersIvo de Figueiredo er født i Langesund i 1966. Han er cand.philol. med hovedfag i historie og har publisert en rekke fagartikler om okkupasjonstiden, Nasjonal Samling og det norske rettsoppgjøret. Ivo de Figueiredo har også skrevet bind 6 av Fredrikstad bys historie, "Mot et nytt årtusen" (1999).
Sitt gjennombrudd fikk han i 2002 med biografien "Fri mann. Johan Bernhard Hjort - en dannelseshistorie", som han ble tildelt Brageprisen for. Etter dette gikk de Figueiredo i gang med sin stort anlagte Ibsen-biografi "Henrik Ibsen. Mennesket og masken" (2006/2007).
De Figueiredo er dessuten forfatter av ungdomsbøkene "Slipp meg. En bok om Henrik Ibsen" (2006) og "Støv. En bok om Henrik Wergeland", som begge innbrakte ham Kirke- og kulturdepartementets fagbokpris..
I 2010 ga han ut den kritikerroste "Mysteriet Ingeborg Køber", og i 2014 "Ord/kjøtt: Norsk scenedramatikk 1890-2000". Høsten 2016 kom slektshistorien "En fremmed ved mitt bord". Boka fikk strålende kritikker, i sin anmeldelse i Klassekampen skriver Tom Egil Hverven: "Med 'En fremmed ved mitt bord' utvider Ivo de Figueiredo forståelsen av hva sakprosa kan være på norsk. [...] Et av samtidas mest betydelige norske forfatterskap"
Sitt gjennombrudd fikk han i 2002 med biografien "Fri mann. Johan Bernhard Hjort - en dannelseshistorie", som han ble tildelt Brageprisen for. Etter dette gikk de Figueiredo i gang med sin stort anlagte Ibsen-biografi "Henrik Ibsen. Mennesket og masken" (2006/2007).
De Figueiredo er dessuten forfatter av ungdomsbøkene "Slipp meg. En bok om Henrik Ibsen" (2006) og "Støv. En bok om Henrik Wergeland", som begge innbrakte ham Kirke- og kulturdepartementets fagbokpris..
I 2010 ga han ut den kritikerroste "Mysteriet Ingeborg Køber", og i 2014 "Ord/kjøtt: Norsk scenedramatikk 1890-2000". Høsten 2016 kom slektshistorien "En fremmed ved mitt bord". Boka fikk strålende kritikker, i sin anmeldelse i Klassekampen skriver Tom Egil Hverven: "Med 'En fremmed ved mitt bord' utvider Ivo de Figueiredo forståelsen av hva sakprosa kan være på norsk. [...] Et av samtidas mest betydelige norske forfatterskap"
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 28, 2023
Had to read the biography for my classical texts acting class along with Shaw's biography. I have never endeavored such long and dense text, and coming from a purely non-leisure reader I actually enjoyed this biography. The author clearly put a lot of hard work into this and I appreciate how even the most distant seeming characters that are introduced and explained in Ibsen's life are always connected back with significance to him and his works and I honestly found so much useful, rather vital, information and analysis of many of his plays and I am truly glad I read it. I feel like I have so much to reference about the man and the mask when delving into his plays now. Nothing fuels me more as an artist than understanding complex histories behind plays and the playwrights and I feel the author gave me that and so much more with this biography.
October 13, 2025
In this major and complete biography of one of the all time great playwrights the world has ever seen, the author proceeds to examine all aspects of his personal and professional life. Every play is given its own space and analysis and his personal life is also given a fair amount of scrutiny.
Firstly, the plays. This man did not stop pushing the boundaries from beginning to last. There is no "playing it safe" period, no "commercially contrived" plots. We're talking 1880s-1890s and he is placing STDs, child death, adultery, and marital breakdowns on stage. It's no wonder that directors and actors return to this material because it is so relevant a century later. And women's rights. Certainly forefront of his mind. Just as those rights are fulminating in the public sphere.
de Figueiredo captures this well and then some. Though the main text goes some 646 pages, with Ibsen, it is well deserved. We're talking a dozen major plays and a transformational force on the world stage - literally. ( There are some outstanding productions of them all available on youtube for free. I recommend watching them while reading the book).
My big quibble: the author keeps returning to his alcohol consumption and penchant for younger women. Here's the rub: there is nothing there. He continues to mention "drinking" and never once mentions when it interfered with his work; sounds Pollyannish without much substance. Europeans drink. Not one mention of it impacting his work or personal relationships. Secondly, there are a few episodes where the elder Ibsen enjoyed the company of women in their 20s and most likely was infatuated with them. The author makes it appear unseemly, but other than possible adultery, the author protests too much. Actually, there isn't much there.
What is there is the outstanding analysis of the professional work of the man and the achievements that, frankly, created modern drama as we know it. This book will do just fine for those interested in a deeper dive into Ibsen's work and into modern drama in general. Bravo for Ibsen. The man transformed the theatre more than anybody since Shakespeare and I don't say that lightly.
Firstly, the plays. This man did not stop pushing the boundaries from beginning to last. There is no "playing it safe" period, no "commercially contrived" plots. We're talking 1880s-1890s and he is placing STDs, child death, adultery, and marital breakdowns on stage. It's no wonder that directors and actors return to this material because it is so relevant a century later. And women's rights. Certainly forefront of his mind. Just as those rights are fulminating in the public sphere.
de Figueiredo captures this well and then some. Though the main text goes some 646 pages, with Ibsen, it is well deserved. We're talking a dozen major plays and a transformational force on the world stage - literally. ( There are some outstanding productions of them all available on youtube for free. I recommend watching them while reading the book).
My big quibble: the author keeps returning to his alcohol consumption and penchant for younger women. Here's the rub: there is nothing there. He continues to mention "drinking" and never once mentions when it interfered with his work; sounds Pollyannish without much substance. Europeans drink. Not one mention of it impacting his work or personal relationships. Secondly, there are a few episodes where the elder Ibsen enjoyed the company of women in their 20s and most likely was infatuated with them. The author makes it appear unseemly, but other than possible adultery, the author protests too much. Actually, there isn't much there.
What is there is the outstanding analysis of the professional work of the man and the achievements that, frankly, created modern drama as we know it. This book will do just fine for those interested in a deeper dive into Ibsen's work and into modern drama in general. Bravo for Ibsen. The man transformed the theatre more than anybody since Shakespeare and I don't say that lightly.
April 19, 2025
Just truly the best biography ive ever read. So rich, so fulsome. Saved the last hour of the book before a performance of Ghosts and glad I did. What a wonderful book and academic work.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews