Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy

Published in 1920, "The Wreath" is the first book in the "Kristin Lavransdatter" trilogy by the Nobel Prize winning Norwegian author Sigrid Undset. Beloved for its historical and cultural accuracy, the stories follow the life of the main character, Kristin Lavransdatter, a fictional Norwegian woman living in the 14th century in the Gudbrand Valley in Norway. In "The Wreath" readers are introduced to Kristin at a young age at her family's prosperous farm. Kristin often clashes with her loving family and, while kind and gentle, she becomes willful and headstrong. Her family is beset by repeated tragedies and her life is upended when her reputation becomes tarnished. In response, she is sent to a nunnery by her parents and her life takes a dramatic turn. There she falls in love with an inappropriate man and engages in a scandalous affair, much to the disapproval of her pious parents. Beautifully written and poetic, "The Wreath" captures both the details of this ancient world and creates characters who share all the same passions and shortcomings as those in the modern era. Undset's classic continues to be treasured in Norway and read all over the world.

From Nobel Prize winning author Sigrid Undset, The Garland is a captivating coming-of-age story set to the vivid backdrop of 14th-century Norway. This classic romance novel is the first installment in the much-loved Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. Kristin Lavransdatter is the headstrong daughter of a noble Norwegian family who does her best to rebel against them at every opportunity. When she is sent to be straightened out at a nunnery, Kristin's life alters forever, much to the horror of her father. Despite being betrothed to another, Kristin finds herself falling into the tangled web of an excommunicated member of the Catholic church. Sigrid Undset weaves themes of corruption, religion, sin and forbidden love through a beautiful presentation of life in 14th century Norway. This historical fiction novel depicts a young girl's struggle with faith and family obligation in a story that is still as relevant to modern-day life as it was when it was first published in 1920. Republished by Read & Co. Books, The Garland is now in a new edition featuring an excerpt from Six Scandinavian Novelists by Alrik Gustafrom. This volume is a highly recommended read for fans of historical fiction and collectors of Sigrid Undset's work.

Originally published in Norwegian in 1920, this first 1923 English translation was by C. Archer and J. S. Scott, now public domain. Kristin Lavransdatter is the daughter of Lavrans, a charismatic, respected nobleman in a rural area of Norway, and his wife Ragnfrid, who suffers from depression after the loss of three infant sons and the crippling of her younger daughter Ulvhild in an accident. Raised in a loving and devoutly religious family, Kristin develops a sensitive but wilful character, defying her family in small and large ways. At an early age, she is exposed to various tragedies. After an attempted rape raises questions about her reputation, she is sent to Nonneseter Abbey, Oslo, a Benedictine nunnery, which proves to be a turning point in her life. Despite being betrothed to a neighboring landowner's son, Simon Darre, Kristin falls in love with someone else, but how will this dangerous romance develop?

First published in 1921, "The Wife" is the second book in the "Kristin Lavransdatter" trilogy by Sigrid Undset, the Norwegian author and winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize for Literature. Undset's award was primarily based on this series, which depicts the life of Norwegian woman from her childhood to her death in the 14th century. The first book in the series, "The Wreath", follows the young Kristin as she clashes with her family, who are religious and prosperous farmers, while she falls in love with, and eventually marries, a man that her parents do not approve of. In "The Wife,", Kristin finally faces adult responsibilities and concerns as she makes a life with her husband. She atones for the sins of her youth and rises to the challenges of raising a large family and running an estate while married to an irresponsible and impulsive man. Kristin's love and loyalty for her foolish husband is greatly tested and she learns the hard way what challenges await her and what sacrifices will be required of her. "The Wife" is a riveting and satisfying portrayal of a woman coming into her own as well as a fascinating glimpse into a long since past medieval world. This edition follows the translation of Charles Archer.

The second volume in the classic Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy, The Mistress of Husaby continues the story of Kristin's eventful life as she adjusts to newly married life and the troubles of motherhood in medieval Norway. Opening with Kristin's arrival at her new home, Husaby, Sigrid Undset's novel explores the tribulations of a new family life against the stunning backdrop of 14th-century Norway. Kristin realises that married life is not all she had hoped and turns her attentions away from her husband, Erlend, and towards her faith and God. Amidst pilgrimages, adultery and plots to overthrow the king, The Mistress of Husaby deepens our understanding of Kristin as we continue to follow her journey through her early adulthood. Originally published in 1921, the second installment of the Kristin Lavransdatter series echoes sentiments of life in the 21st century and tugs at the reader's heartstrings. A must-read for fans of the first Kristin Lavransdatter book, Read & Co. Books have proudly republished this new edition of The Mistress of Husaby, with an introductory excerpt from Alrik Gustafrom's Six Scandinavian Novelists.

First published in English in 1927, "The Cross" is the final book in the "Kristin Lavransdatter" trilogy, which depicts the life of a Norwegian woman from her childhood to her death in the 14th century. The first book in the series, "The Wreath", follows the young Kristin as she clashes with her family, who are religious and prosperous farmers, while she falls in love with, and eventually marries, a man that her parents do not approve of. In the second book, "The Wife", Kristin finally faces adult responsibilities and concerns as she makes a life with her husband. She atones for the sins of her youth and rises to the challenges of raising a large family and running an estate while married to an irresponsible and impulsive man. In the final installment of the trilogy, "The Cross", we find Kristin and her family returning to her childhood farm, which is the only property left to them given the loss of her husband's inheritance. There she struggles to gain the respect of her community while dealing with a sequence of family and personal conflicts as the work advances towards its tragic conclusion. Recognized for its realistic portrayal of 14th century Norwegian life, the "Kristin Lavransdatter" trilogy is the principal body of work that would win Sigrid Undset the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928.

The Cross' is the third in the trilogy of historical novels called Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset.

Immerse yourself in the tumultuous story of head-strong Kristin as she battles through life in medieval Norway. From the beloved Norwegian author Sigrid Undset, this richly detailed trilogy features all three books in the Kristin Lavransdatter series. Set in 14th-century Norway, Kristin is rebellious and determined to live by her own rules, often disobeying her parents and ignoring others' warnings. From forbidden love to balancing motherhood with inner conflict, this trilogy follows Kristin from birth to death in The Garland, The Mistress of Husaby and The Cross. Within this work, Sigrid Undset beautifully captures the political and religious undertones of Norwegian society at the time, writing in the lyrical style often found in 20th century modernist work. Themes of conflict, politics, sin and redemption are intricately woven into this historical fiction trilogy that led to Undset being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928. Bringing three classics to life in an exciting trilogy edition, Read & Co. Books has republished Kristin Lavransdatter complete with an excerpt from Six Scandinavian Novelists by Alrik Gustafrom. This volume is a must-read for those with an interest in medieval Scandinavia.