Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. This historical novel, written over a hundred years ago, is set in 14th-century Norway. Sigrid Undset was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928, and Kristin Lavransdatter played a central role in that recognition. The prize acknowledged her detailed and historically accurate portrayal of life in the Middle Ages.
I deeply enjoyed this novel, not just for its realistic depiction of characters dealing with moral dilemmas and social constraints, but also because of how immersive it is. Reading this book feels like stepping into another world. It’s a vivid journey into the inner lives of its characters. Kristin Lavransdatter is actually a trilogy, and the book I’m discussing here is the first volume, titled The Wreath.
The story begins by tracing Kristin’s ancestry, and it follows her life from birth to death.
Kristin is born into a wealthy and loving family. Most of their wealth comes from land that has belonged to her father, Lavrans, for generations; long enough that the family is exempt from paying property taxes. Despite their prosperity, the family has experienced tragedy. Kristin’s mother has lost several children in infancy, which was sadly common at the time. Kristin survives, but her younger sister Ulvhild suffers a serious injury as a baby and is left unable to walk.
When traditional healers and the local priest fail to help Ulvhild, the family turns to a woman named Aashild, whom many villagers believe to be a witch. Aashild is not truly a witch, but she is intelligent and unconventional. Her knowledge and presence earn the family’s respect, and she remains close to them in the years that follow. She and Kristin develop a strong bond.
As Kristin grows older, her father arranges for her to marry Simon, the son of another wealthy landowner, in exchange for more property in the valley. Kristin accepts this decision without protest, even though she does not care for Simon. Meanwhile, her heart belongs to Arne, a boy who has been her friend for many years. Aashild advises Kristin to go through with the arranged marriage for a secure and prosperous life, while also maintaining her friendship with Arne for emotional support.
One night, after secretly meeting Arne, Kristin is attacked by a drunken monk on her way home. She manages to fight him off and escape. Knowing her community is small and reputations matter, she confronts the monk’s mother and threatens that if her son doesn’t leave the village, Kristin’s father will take matters into his own hands. The monk flees the village.
Later, the same monk encounters Arne in a tavern. A fight breaks out, and the monk fatally stabs Arne. Kristin and her father visit Arne’s grieving mother, and the father comes to understand the depth of Kristin’s involvement in the events that led to Arne’s death. The mother is furious and blames Lavrans.
Devastated and full of guilt, Kristin decides to enter a convent for a time, which was a common choice for young women in her situation.
At the convent, Kristin slowly adapts to religious life. But during a trip to a neighboring village, she and a friend become lost in the forest and are nearly assaulted by strangers. Just in time, a group of men on horseback appears and rescues them. One of the rescuers turns out to be Aashild’s nephew, and Kristin eventually begins a romantic relationship with him.