This volume investigates the evolution and thematic preoccupations of Scandinavian drama during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Robert W. Corrigan provides a curated selection of plays intended to illustrate the shift toward realism and psychological depth in Northern European theater. The collection serves as a scholarly introduction to the structural innovations and social critiques that defined the period's dramatic output.

Scholars and students of theater history frequently cite this anthology as a reliable entry point for understanding the foundational texts of modern drama. The editorial commentary is noted for its clarity and focus on the technical development of the Scandinavian stage.