An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People, first performed in 1883, is Henrik Ibsen's angry comedy about a man who tells the truth and is destroyed for it. Dr. Thomas Stockmann discovers that the new baths on which his Norwegian town has staked its prosperity are poisoned by sewage from the tanneries upstream. He expects gratitude; instead his brother the mayor, the liberal newspaper and the association of small property owners unite against him, and at a public meeting he is shouted down and branded an enemy of the people. Stockmann's response is a tirade against the compact majority that Ibsen does not entirely endorse. The play is presented in R. Farquharson Sharp's translation. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read An Enemy of the People online?
Yes. An Enemy of the People opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is An Enemy of the People free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of An Enemy of the People is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is An Enemy of the People in the public domain?
Yes. An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen is a public-domain work, here in the translation by R. Farquharson Sharp. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read An Enemy of the People?
About 2 h 07 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is An Enemy of the People?
An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
