The turbulent historical masterpiece of Norway's literary master. In her great historical epic Kristin Lavransdatter , set in 14th-century Norway, Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset tells the life story of one passionate and headstrong woman. Undset immerses listeners in the day-to-day life, social conventions, and political and religious undercurrents of the period. Now in one volume, Tiina Nunnally's award-winning definitive translation brings this remarkable work to life with clarity and lyrical beauty. As a young girl, ...
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The turbulent historical masterpiece of Norway's literary master. In her great historical epic Kristin Lavransdatter , set in 14th-century Norway, Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset tells the life story of one passionate and headstrong woman. Undset immerses listeners in the day-to-day life, social conventions, and political and religious undercurrents of the period. Now in one volume, Tiina Nunnally's award-winning definitive translation brings this remarkable work to life with clarity and lyrical beauty. As a young girl, Kristin is deeply devoted to her father, a kind and courageous man. But when as a student in a convent school she meets the charming and impetuous Erlend Nikulauss???n, she defies her parents in pursuit of her own desires. Her saga continues through her marriage to Erlend, their tumultuous life together raising seven sons as Erlend seeks to strengthen his political influence, and finally their estrangement as the world around them tumbles into uncertainty. With its captivating heroine and emotional potency, Kristin Lavransdatter is the masterwork of Norway's most beloved author - one of the 20th century's most prodigious and engaged literary minds - and, in Nunnally's exquisite translation, a story that continues to enthrall.
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Some critics and most readers regard this as better than War and Peace. I understand the new translation is preferred by some people but I have not read it yet. The old translation is mighty good, especially in the way the translator tried to approximate the language of the day but still keep it eminently readable.
Talks2Much
Apr 1, 2007
Synopsis Says It
The blurb is accurate, but it's also a fun read. If you like vamping it up in online RPG's you'll probably enjoy this book. Watch out for undercurrents of early twentieth century sexual morality, however, in the development of the main characters. Without doing any serious research, I would say that 14th century individuals might have reacted to issues of fidelity, property rights, and class structure somewhat differently than portrayed.
A novel, after all, not a biography, and still a great escape!