Composition and publication Real-life inspiration A Doll's House was based on the life of Laura Kieler (maiden name Laura Smith Petersen), a good friend of Ibsen. Much that happened between Nora and Torvald happened to Laura and her husband, Victor. Similar to the events in the play, Laura signed an illegal loan to save her husband's life—in this case, to find a cure for his tuberculosis. She wrote to Ibsen, asking for his recommendation of her work to his publisher, thinking that the sales of her book would repay her debt. At his refusal, she forged a check for the money. At this point, she was found out. In real life, when Victor discovered Laura's secret loan, he divorced her and had her committed to an asylum. Two years later, she returned to her husband and children at his urging, and she went on to become a well-known Danish author, living to the age of 83.
Composition and publication Real-life inspiration A Doll's House was based on the life of Laura Kieler (maiden name Laura Smith Petersen) a good friend of Ibsen Much that happened between Nora and Torvald happened to Laura and her husband Victor Similar to the events in the play Laura signed an illegal loan to save her husband's life—in this case to find a cure for his tuberculosis She wrote to Ibsen asking for his recommendation of her work to his publisher thinking that the sales of her book would repay her debt At his refusal she forged a check for the money At this point she was found out In real life when Victor discovered Laura's secret loan he divorced her and had her committed to an asylum Two years later she returned to her husband and children at his urging and she went on to become a well-known Danish author living to the age of 83