Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien, in 1828. He has written many beautiful poems; but his special field is in the drama, where he is a master. His first works were nearly all historical romantic dramas. His first work, _Catilina_, printed in 1850, was scarcely noticed until years afterward, when he had become famous. In 1856 appeared the romantic drama, _Gildet paa Solhaug_, "The Feast at Solhaug," followed by _Fru Inger til Oestraat_, 1857, and _Haermaedene paa Helgeland_, "The Warriors on Helgeland," 1858. In 1863, he wrote the historical tragedy _Kongsemnerne_, "The Pretenders," in which the author showed his great literary power. Before this play was published, he had been drawn into a new channel. In 1862, he began a series of satirical and philosophical dramas with _Kjaerlighedens Komedie_, "Love's Comedy," which was succeeded by two masterpieces of a similar kind, _Brand_, in 1866, and _Peer Gynt_, in 1867. These two works were written in verse; but in _De Unges Forbund_, "The Young Men's League," 1869, a political satire, he abandoned verse, and all his subsequent dramas have been written in prose. In 1873 came _Keiser og Galilaeer_, "Emperor and Galilean." Since then he has published a number of social dramas which have attracted world-wide attention. Among them are: _Samfundets Stötter_, "The Pillars of Society," _Et Dukkehjem_, "A Doll's House," _Gengangere_, "Ghosts," _En Folkefiende_, "An Enemy of the People," _Rosmerholm, Fruenn fra Havet_, "The Lady from the Sea," _Little Eyolf, Bymester Solnes_, "Masterbuilder Solnes," _John Gabriel Borkman_, and the latest and most-talked-about, _Hedda Gabler_. Björnstjerne Björnson (born in Osterdalen, in 1832) is the more popular of the two giants of Norwegian literature of to-day. His works are more national in tone. It has been said that to mention his name is to raise the Norwegian flag. His first successes were made in the field of the novel, and the first two, _Synnöve Solbakken_, 1857, and _Arne_, 1858, made his name famous. These, and his other peasant stories, will always retain their popularity. He soon, however, entered the dramatic field, and has since published a great number of dramas and novels. In the field of belles-lettres there is at the present time a number of other talented authors. Jonas Lie (born 1833) has produced a number of excellent novels. Then there are Alexander Kielland (born 1849) Magdalene Thoresen (born 1819), Arne Garborg, Gunnar Heiberg, and a number of young authors. In the field of science, also, modern Norway has a rich literature, with many prominent names, such as the historian Peter Andreas Munch (1810-1864), Johan Ernst Sars (born 1835), and O.A. Överland.[e] CHAPTER VI THE LITERATURE OF SWEDEN