Ibsen, The Ghosts

• Date: 1851 - 1899

• Location: Europe

• Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion

• Medium: Theatre

• Artist/Author/Producer: Hendrik Ibsen

• Confronting Bodies: Several including Lord Chamberlain

• Dates of action: 1881

• Location: Norway, England, Spain and the Soviet Union

Description of the Art Work

"The Ghosts," 1890: Drama, one of the most important of the author's realistic period. Its protagonist, the widowed Mrs. Alving has used her energies to suppress the truth about her profligate husband. The play's crisis is provoked by the return from Paris of her son, Oswald, suffering not from consumption but from syphilis, derived from his father. Although the play deals with such taboo subjects as incest and euthanasia, it is chiefly about the death conventions that smother a society's vitality.

Description of incident

1881, Norway, the play was intended as a reform and was received with ill will. 1892, England, the application for a licence was refused by the Lord Chamberlain. Long after Ibsen's position had been recognized in modern letters, the censor still interposed his shocked and obstinate personality between the British public and the Norwegian author. 1939, Spain, Work purged by the Franco Government.

Results of incident

1915, England, ban removed by the Lord Chamberlain. 1958, Soviet Union, works formerly banned reported to be extremely popular.

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Record no 22