The collected works of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. 08 (of 11)

"The Collected Works of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. 08 (of 11)" by Henrik Ibsen is a dramatic anthology written in the late 19th century. This volume contains two of Ibsen's significant plays: "An Enemy of the People" and "The Wild Duck". The works prominently explore themes of truth, morality, and the impact of societal expectations on individual lives, incorporating complex characters such as the idealistic Dr. Thomas Stockmann, who finds himself at odds with his community. The opening of "An Enemy of the People" introduces Dr. Stockmann, a passionate medical officer who has made a shocking discovery about the town's baths—an important source of economic prosperity—that they are dangerously contaminated. As he eagerly prepares to reveal his findings, the dynamics of power and public opinion come into play when his brother, the Burgomaster, suggests suppressing the information to protect the town's interests. This conflict between truth and social responsibility sets the stage for a nuanced exploration of the societal implications of his discovery, hinting at the struggles Dr. Stockmann will face as he chooses to uphold his moral integrity against overwhelming opposition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and the most influential playwright of the 19th century, as well of one of the most influential playwrights in Western literature more generally. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder, and When We Dead Awaken. Ibsen is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House was the world's most performed play in 2006.