An Enemy of the People: (Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp with an Introduction by Otto Heller)

First performed in 1882 Henrik Ibsens An Enemy of the People is the story of the animosity that can befall someone whose actions while in the best interest of the public good threaten the economic well being of a community. The story begins during an evening of entertaining at the household of Dr. Stockmann the titular enemy of the people. When the mayor of the town Dr. Stockmanns brother Peter and the editor of the town newspaper Hovstad come to Dr. Stockmanns home he is confronted over the rumors that the water of the town baths may be contaminated. The two brothers argue over the morality of concealing or falsely shaping the narrative in regards to the problem. When a letter arrives confirming the contamination Dr. Stockmann convinces Hovstad that he must publish the report which sets into motion a great conflict amongst the townspeople over the financial cost of dealing with the contamination. In this tensely dramatic work we find Ibsen at his best in addressing the economic consequences of doing the right thing. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper follows the translation of R. Farquharson Sharp and includes an introduction by Otto Heller.