Today is the anniversary of the death in 1949 of Norwegian author Sigrid Undset. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928.
I discovered Kristin Lavransdatter in young adulthood and loved it. I have a 3-volume hardback edition of the Charles Archer translation, but I'd love to get the translation by Tiina Nunnally someday. I discovered The Master of Hestviken later, and I have a one-volume hardback edition of the Arthur G. Chater translation.
There are short biographies here and here. A picture of the stamp bearing her portrait is here.
There is a review of Kristin Lavransdatter here and a reading guide here. The Catholic Education Resource Center has an article "Reading Sigrid Undset". The work was adapted for film in 1995.
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Hmm, your brief article didn't catch my attention in any way that made me want to keep an eye out for her books. But then, I followed your links to her bio, and my attention WAS caught by her writing historical fiction, especially historical fiction that attempted to delve into what history doesn't record, namely the personal situation of common people, and especially women. If I understood correctly, that's very cool.
ReplyDeleteI came across the Lavransdatter trilogy in a used book store and bought it not knowing anything about the author or her books. I was entranced by the stories. They take place in medieval Norway and do focus on the personal lives of the characters from the point of view of the women. I like it better than Master of Hestviken, which follows the main male character more.
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