1828-1906. Norwegian playwright and poet,
whose realistic and often controversial,
plays revolutionized European theatre. Driven
into exile 1864-91 by opposition to the
satirical Love's Comedy 1862, he wrote the
verse dramas Brand 1866 and Peer Gynt 1867,
followed by realistic plays dealing with
social issues, including Pillars of Society
1877, The Doll's House 1879, Ghosts 1881, An
Enemy of the People 1882, and Hedda Gabler
1891. By the time of his return to Norway, he
was recognized as the country's greatest
living writer. His later plays which are more
symbolic, include The Master Builder 1892,
Little Eyolf 1894, John Gabriel Borkman 1896,
and When We Dead Awaken 1899.