Hendrik Johan Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian poet and playwright. He is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playwrights; only the works of William Shakespeare are performed more. Born in Norway to a formerly well-to-do merchant family, Ibsen left school at 15 to become a pharmacist and began writing plays at 18. Success was elusive, and in 1864 Ibsen left Norway. Most of his successful works were written while he lived in Italy and Germany (from age 34) in self-imposed exile. Ibsen did not return to Norway for 27 years, by which time he was quite controversial due to plays like A DOLL'S HOUSE.