The period of 1870-1910 is one of the most important in Scandinavian literature and culture, and is referred to as The Modern Breakthrough. Many great works were produced during this period, as well as a wealth of letters. The eighteen essays in this collection explore various aspects of the correspondence among the many significant figures of this period, including Ibsen, Strindberg, Hamsun, Delius, Brandes, Skram, and Nielsen.