Ghosts
Ghosts, written in 1881, is the play that made Henrik Ibsen notorious across Europe. Mrs. Alving, widow of a chamberlain remembered as a model citizen, is about to open an orphanage in his memory when her son Oswald returns from Paris, ill and restless. Over a single misty day the family's buried history surfaces: the dead man's debaucheries, the wife's years of concealment, the parentage of the maid Regina, and the inheritance Oswald carries in his body. Pastor Manders presides, blind to everything. Ibsen called it a family drama in three acts; its handling of venereal disease, incest and euthanasia kept it off most stages for a decade. William Archer's translation includes his introduction on the play's reception. 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 Ghosts
Ghosts 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 Ghosts online?
Yes. Ghosts 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 Ghosts free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Ghosts 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 Ghosts in the public domain?
Yes. Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen is a public-domain work, here in the translation by William Archer. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Ghosts?
About 1 h 38 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 Ghosts?
Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
