(Letters XV-XVIII were first published in the Norwegian magazine Samtiden, February, 1908.)
MUNICH, February 4th, 1887
Dear Professor:
SINCE my return from Berlin I have almost every day thought of writing to you. But there has always been some hindrance until now you have forestalled me with your kind letter, for which I ask you to accept my most cordial thanks.
I wrote to Mrs von Borch yesterday and informed her that, except for a few more definitely stated conditions regarding the proofreading, I have no objection to her translation of “The Wild Duck” being published by Mr. Fischer, instead of by Reclam.
As regards “Lady Inger,” on the other hand, that is an old play which appeared about ten years ago in a German translation by Emma Klingenfeld from the publishing house of Theodor Ackermann here in Munich. The edition is not yet exhausted, so that under the circumstances a new translation of the drama should hardly be considered at present.
It was also an extremely great pleasure for me to learn, through you, that the German edition of “Rosmersholm” has had such a favourable reception in Berlin.
I look forward to your note on “Ghosts” with great expectation, and send you in advance my thanks for it.
My visit in Berlin and all connected with it I regard as a great and true personal happiness. It has had a wonderfully refreshing and renewing effect on my mind, and will quite certainly leave its traces in my future production.
I ask you, my dear professor, to accept my most cordial thanks for the large and important share which you had in all this, and to extend similar thanks to Dr. Brahm and Dr. Schlenther, and also to as many as possible of all the kind people with whom I had the good fortune to come in contact.
Your appointment as professor I have read in the Danish papers and I extend to you, on this occasion, my heartiest congratulations. Henceforth you will be associated with another political community. But I suppose that in many respects your scientific work will involve a continued connection with the northern countries.
And now I say farewell for this time, and am
Yours indebtedly and truly,
HENRIK IBSEN