Georg Brandes was a Danish literary critic and theorist who profoundly influenced Scandinavian and European literature. In the 1870s, he articulated the principles of realism and naturalism, rejecting ahistorical writing. He believed literature should serve as an organ for the great thoughts of liberty and the progress of humanity. His vision launched the movement known as the 'Modern Breakthrough'.
The most poetic and magical of Shakespeare's comedies, this play contrasts lyrical fantasy surrounding the spirit Ariel and the savage Calaban, with a tale of political intrigue focused around Prospero, the banished Duke of Milan, now a wizard living on a remote island.