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[henrik-ibsen]

To My Husband Henrik

You were a good man. We were married for 48 wonderful years, and in that time you were able to support me and your son Sigurd. You were a poet, a playwrite, a father, a husband, and much more to so many people. You inspired thousands of future playwrites to take up the craft and helped to create the movement towards naturalism. You will be remembered for many plays, but in particular the way in which you gave insight into the flaws within society. Goodbye

Your wife,

Suzannah Ibsen

[henrik-ibsen]

Moved back to Norway

Norway feud officially over, gonna get back to writing The Master Builder!

[henrik-ibsen]

Just wrote a banger about a woman who does some really fucked up shit. I'm off to write 4 more plays. Hopefully I don't suffer from a stroke in 1900 that leaves me unable to write after that.

[henrik-ibsen]

My Move To Munich

Okay, so a lot has happened since I last posted. To make a long story short, we produced The Pillars of Society, which was already a big success, and then I wrote A Doll's House, and the entire continent of Europe has gone hog wild with that. This has turned out fantastic!

[henrik-ibsen]

Wrote another play, this time basing it on Per Gynt, a norwegian fairytale. This in particular is very personal to me, as I used a lot of my memories from childhood and my family as inspiration. When you see it, know that Ase is based on my own mom!

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Shout out to the folks in Scandinavia for enjoying Brand!

[henrik-ibsen]

Screw all y'all

Alright, I'm sick of this shit. My theater failed through NO FAULT of my own (no matter what conflicting historical accounts say). After writing Love's Comedy and The Pretenders, I'd say I've outgrown this petty and illiberal society and the hollow and pretentious traditions you hold so dear. I'm going to get a state grant and move to Italy with my wife. Peace.

[henrik-ibsen]

Movin' up in the world

The year: 1857. The place: Kristiania. The setting: the new theater I've been asked to run! I'm so excited to make theatre here now! After the success of The Feast at Solhaug at Det norske Theater, I've been asked to come back here! I'm so happy! Also, I've been talking to this woman named Suzannah Daae Thoresen and I think she might be the one! Here's a poem I wrote her.

TO THE ONLY ONE

The ball-room glitters resplendent, Already the dance moves fast; Ladies in rainbow clusters, Airily decked, go past. High overhead the music Scatters its witchcraft fine; Each dancer’s in festal humour, Each lamp hath a festal shine

Hark to the ball-room courtships, Whisperings soft and low— All that the moment prompts of all Dreamt or heard long ago. And the ladies smile demurely As memory’s album receives Speeches, fiery and tender, Not speakers nor hearer believes.

Throughout the crowded ball-room There’s naught but gladness and mirth; Not one of them all that hath felt it— Not one that could ever guess How, under the veil of rejoicing, Lurks the horror of emptiness.

Ah yes! There is one, one only, Among so many but one. Her eyes have a secret sadness; I read in them sorrow begun— I read in them dreaming fancies That rise and sink without cease— A heart that longs and throbs upwards, And finds in this world no peace.

Dared I but rede thee, thou riddle Of youth and deep dreamings wrought; Dared I but choose thee boldly To be the bride of my thought; Dared I but plunge my spirit Deep in thy spirit’s tide, Dared I but gaze on the visions In thy innocent soul that hide;

Ah, then what fair songs upspringing Should soar from my breast on high; Ah, then how free I’d go sailing Like a bird toward the coasts of the sky! Ah, then should my scattered visions To one single harmony throng; For all of life’s fairest visions Would mirror themselves in my song.

Dared I but rede thee, thou riddle Of youth and deep dreamings wrought; Dared I but choose thee boldly To be the bride of my thought.

Henrik Ibsen

[henrik-ibsen]

What's up Bergen? I'm here to do two things: be a playwrite and director! I've been hired! After living in the student quarters in Kristiania, this is definitely a step up. Current goal: create a national drama so that our dramatic arts aren't totally dominated by Eugène Scribe.

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Lol, classic shakespeare! Anyways, I've been writing a bit more lately, and I think I've officially finished my first play! It's inspired by the great Willy Shakes himself! It's called Catilina, and I was inspired to make it by the Catiline Orations, which were speeches given by Cicero in the roman empire in order to accuse Catiline of plotting to overthrow the roman senate. I'm thinking of publishing it under the pseudonym Brynjolf Bjarme. Don't wanna get too famous before I even start college!

[henrik-ibsen]

I'm so over Skein. It sucks. The people suck. I'm 15, I'm my own man now, so I'm moving to Grimstad. I'm going to be an apothecary’s apprentice while I study for university. If all goes well, I will be studying medicine in Kristiania soon! I think in the meantime though, I'll keep writing poetry and painting.

[henrik-ibsen]

Bad News guys

My dad's entire business, gone. We've had to sell it along with everything else and move to a farm next to town. I think times are gonna be tough for a little while. On the bright side, I've found that I really like reading books. Who knows, could have a future there! More importantly though, I've also been getting into magic lately, any people I should follow to get started?

[henrik-ibsen]

Man, this place rocks. I'm the oldest of 5 kids, my dad is a successful merchant, and I live in Skien, Norway. Literally nothing could possibly go wrong to make my life substantially harder.