Ole Bull, the great virtuoso violinist, known as the "Paganini of the North," had just established the first Norwegian theater in Bergen, and, seeing what a promising young man [Henrik Ibsen] was, engaged him as a "scene instructor," with the condition that he write one play every year. The engagement lasted six years - crucial years in Ibsen's life, during which he learned about the theater from the ground up and was given opportunities to travel to Denmark and Germany to study stagecraft.
Ibsen's last residence is now a museum, offering special tours of the inner sanctum of his and [Suzannah]'s home. Visiting, I was struck by its rich, plush, Victorian-style furniture. Their home, according to the guide, had also been a wonder in terms of modern conveniences, ahead of the Royal Palace...
... was a very solitary man, and remained a tortured soul throughout most of his life. Of the many self...