The Quintessence of Ibsenism (Version 2)


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

This is an essay providing an extended analysis of the works of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and of Ibsen's critical reception in England. Shaw uses this "exposition of Ibsenism" to illustrate the imperfections of British society, using the idea of an imaginary "community of a thousand persons," divided into three categories: Philistines, Idealists, and the lone Realist.

The main discussion revolves around Ibsen's recurring topic of the strong character holding out against social hypocrisy, while stating in his essay's final sentence that the quintessence of Ibsenism is that "there is no formula." ( Michele Eaton) (4 hr 17 min)

Chapters

Preface 4:08 Read by Gesine
The Two Pioneers 26:48 Read by Helen Taylor
Ideals and Idealists 19:11 Read by Soumen Barua
The Womanly Woman 24:23 Read by Soumen Barua
The Plays-Brand 5:09 Read by asterix
The Plays - Peer Gynt 13:59 Read by asterix
The Plays - Emperor and Galilean 22:57 Read by KHand
The Plays - The League of Youth 3:42 Read by KHand
The Plays - Pillars of Society 5:28 Read by wolfstevent
The Plays - A Dolls House 6:05 Read by inflected
The Plays - Ghosts 16:08 Read by Jack Daniel
The Plays - An Enemy of the People 7:14 Read by asterix
The Plays - The Wild Duck 8:12 Read by asterix
The Plays - Rosmersholm 14:28 Read by Wendy Almeida
The Plays - The Lady From the Sea 4:58 Read by KHand
The Plays - Hedda Gabler 13:35 Read by inflected
The Plays - The Moral of the Plays 22:10 Read by asterix
Appendix Part 1 25:51 Read by Philip Panos
Appendix Part 2 13:31 Read by Philip Panos