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The Master Builder

Henrik Ibsen

Book Overview: 

Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder, is about architect Halvard Solness, who despite personal tragedy (including the death of his two sons) has risen to the top of his profession. He has succeeded partly through ruthless competition and exploitation and partly through a seeming ability to force his will on others. His unhappy wife Aline mourns for their lost life, and resents his interest in various young women, including his bookkeeper Kaia Fosli. Solness disregards the ambitions of other architects, including Knut Brovik and his son Ragnar, and seeks solace in the advice of family physician and friend Dr. Herdal. With the entrance of Hilda Wangel, a young woman whom he met as a child ten years ago, his life acquires a new focal point, one that will mean the end of him.

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .KAIA.

[Passionately, clasping hands and holding them out towards him.] Oh, you know very well there is only one person I care for now! I shall never care for any one else.

SOLNESS.

Yes, you say that. And yet you go away from me—leave me alone here with everything on my hands.

KAIA.

But could I not stay with you, even if Ragnar—?

SOLNESS.

[Repudiating the idea.] No, no, that is quite impossible. If Ragnar leaves me and starts work on his own account, then of course he will need you himself.

KAIA.

[Wringing her hands.] Oh, I feel as if I could not be separated from you! It's quite, quite impossible!

SOLNESS.

Then be sure you get those foolish notions out of Ragnar's head. Marry him as much as you please—[Alters his tone.] I mean—don't let him throw up his good situation with me. For then I can keep you too, my dear Kaia.

KAIA.

Oh yes, how lovely t. . . Read More

Community Reviews

Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen’s work Hedda Gabler, introduced me to one of my favourite female leads in recent memory. What a complex (and painful) character she was.

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I love this play. I decided to listen to it since I h

We read this in high school. We were sixteen, what did we know? Fifty years later it is the most awesome work. Godzilla loosed upon the innocent villagers. They don’t stand a chance. Stomp. Crash. Kaboom. It’s so cool. Go monster!

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