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JAMES MCFARLANE, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1994. Pp. xxvi, 271. $59.95, $16.95 (PB).
There are now thirteen volumes in The Cambridge Companions to Literature series, from a Companion to Old English Literature to a Companion to Beckett. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen is, thus, in very good company. The sixteen essays by distinguished Ibsenites (Norwegian, English, Swedish, Danish, American, and Canadian) compose, in my view, the most helpful selection of Ibsen studies now available in English. Seven of the essays deal directly with the dramatic texts: Asbjorn Aarseth, "Ibsen's dramatic apprenticeship"; Bjorn Hemmer, "Ibsen and historical drama"; John Northam, "Dramatic and non-dramatic poetry"; Robin Young, "Ibsen and comedy"; Bjorn Hemmer, "Ibsen and the realistic problem drama"; Janet Garton. "The middle plays"; and Inga-Stina Ewbank, "The last play."
Six essays deal with the plays in performance: James McFarlane, "Ibsen's working methods"; Simon Williams, "Ibsen and the theatre 1877-1900"; Frederick...