Dramatist recalled in Verlaine's biography (5)
I believe the answer is:
ibsen
'dramatist' is the definition.
(Henrik Ibsen, 1828-1906)
'recalled in verlaine's biography' is the wordplay.
'recalled' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'nesbi' is hidden within 'verlaines biography'.
'nesbi' written backwards gives 'IBSEN'.
(Other definitions for ibsen that I've seen before include "Norwegian dramatist and poet" , "6 24 113 [SCAN-DIN-AVIAN] writer" , "Norwegian playwright (Peer Gynt)" , "Norwegian dramatist of 'Hedda Gabler'" , "Linesman" .)