in Hamburg, in 1883, and for that the author modified and altered
it greatly. Eventually it was played, in its original form, in
the Scandinavian countries, and in its turn stirred up a bitter
controversy on the ethics of male and female morality as regards
marriage. It was currently said that hundreds of contemplated
marriages were broken off in Norway as an effect of its statement
of a vital problem. The remodelling the play originally underwent
for its performance in Germany was drastic. The second and third
acts were entirely recast, the character of Dr. Nordan was
omitted and others introduced, and the ending was changed. The
first version was, however, evidently the author's favourite, and
it is that that is presented here. Bjornson never published the
recast version, and in the "memorial edition" of his works it is
the present version that is given. The recast version was
translated into English by Mr. Osman Edwards and produced (in an
"adapted" and mangled form, for which the translator was not
responsible) at the Royalty Theatre in London in 1894.

R. FARQUHARSON SHARP.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

DRAMATIC AND POETIC WORKS.--Mellem Slagene (Between the Battles),
1857. Halte-Hulda (Lame Hulda), 1858. Kong Sverre (King Sverre),
1861. Sigurd Slembe (Sigurd the Bastard), 1862; translated by
W. M. Payne, 1888. Maria Stuart i Skotland, 1864. De Nygifte (The
Newly-Married Couple), 1865; translated by T. Soelfeldt, 1868; by
S. and E. Hjerleid, 1870; as A Lesson in Marriage, by G. I.
Colbron, 1911. Sigurd Jorsalfar (Sigurd the Crusader), 1872.