En Folkefiende [An Enemy of the People.] Skuespil I Fem Akter.

Bookseller Notes

The scarce wrappers issue of this important play by the Norwegian dramatist - 'a comedy, [...] based on a serious idea' (letter to Frederik Hegel, June 1882), written in response to the scandal created by 'Gengangere'. It is among the most modern of Ibsen's works, and has been consistently performed for both stage and screen.This is a significant association copy, belonging to Erik Wilhelm af Edholm, a high-ranking Swedish military officer who became director at the Kungliga Operan (Royal Opera) and the Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern (Royal Dramatic Theatre) in Stockholm - in the latter context he was responsible for bringing the work of Strindberg and Ibsen to a wider audience, and he corresponded with both playwrights. This play was performed at the theatre in March 1883. The later ownership inscription is simply the word 'dubbl' - likely a playful way of conveying that the book then passed to Edholm's son of the same name (Erik Gustaf ad Edholm), like his father a high-ranking military officer.