Henrik Ibsen's The Stuff of Kings (previously known as The Pretenders) is a historical tragedy in the manner of Shakespeare and a work of such excellence that major Ibsen scholars have deservedly called it Ibsen's "first masterpiece." This new translation of the play has given it a new, more appropriate title and is the only translation of it into American English. In addition, the translator has included a major commentary on the play and various materials designed to encourage attempts to stage it.