Kristin Lavransdatter Update

I finished book one, The Wreath, of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy last week.  I've just barely begun the next book, The Wife.  This and the final book will be a tad bit longer than the first--both have about 400 pages.  While the first book described Kristin's youth, the next looks like it is going to be about her early married life.  The publisher's blurb reads:

"In The Wife, Undset paints a vivid portrait of a marriage buffeted not only by private passions and recriminations, but by the forces of history. Kristin is determined to create a household and a family life that will mitigate the shame she brought upon herself and her parents. As Undset chronicles Kristin's days as the mistress of Erlend's ancestral estate and the mother of seven sons, she renders the details of everyday life with astounding precision—the eating and sleeping arrangements in both manor houses and humble peasant homes; the risks of childbirth and of raising children; and the social and religious activities that punctuate each week. Erlend's involvement in a plot against an unpopular king brings to life the political intrigues percolating in Scandinavia during the period and captures the strong sense of justice and personal freedom that set Norway apart from most other medieval cultures. The inner lives of the characters are illuminated with the same care—from the painful secrets Kristin's parents harbor to the destructive consequences of Kristin's pride and resentment and of Erlend's petulant refusal to accept his responsibilities."

Now that I am finished with the first book, I have been thinking about the questions that I posted a couple of weeks ago from the Penguin reading guide.  Some have been easier to answer than others.  I'm very curious about what others think of the last question, in particular "Does Undset's depiction of the consequences of adultery reflect the moral conventions of the time or does it represent a more universal truth?"  I can't quite decide what I think about this one.  It seems that adultery at least from the point of view of Kristin's actions aren't uncommon now and I'm not sure that people would condemn her.  However, when you throw in the mix Erlend and his situation, some things probably don't really change.  Things got rather messy at the end of the first book.  It seems as though Kristin is paying the price for them in the second book--the first section of the book is called "The Fruit of Sin"--if that says anything.  What began as a passionate sort of love is turning into something altogether different.   

I wish I would have thought more about the questions as I was reading, so I will go ahead and post the next set of questions here for book two now:

  The Wife

1. In talking about her heroine, Sigrid Undset said that Kristin's greatest sin was not indulging in sex before marriage, but the sin of pride, which fueled her defiance of the rules she had learned as a child. Does her marriage temper Kristin's tendency to insist on having her own way? Is Erlend, too, guilty of the sin of pride? What do their reactions to Kristin's out-of-wedlock pregnancy indicate about their individual personalities and the likely course of their marriage?
    
2. What function does Gunnulf serve in the novel? Compare his relationship with Kristin to the ones she forms with Brother Edvin and with her parish priests, Sira Eirik and Sira Eiliv. Are Gunnulf's criticisms of Erlend based only on his religious beliefs or are they colored by childhood memories and his own inner conflicts? What do Undset's various portraits of the clergy reveal about religion and spirituality during the Middle Ages?
    
3. Why does Erlend become involved in the plot to remove King Magnus and secure the throne for Prince Haakon? How does his nostalgia for Viking times, when social mobility was linked to the test of battle, affect his judgment and his actions? What does he hope to gain as an individual? In addition to clarifying the political climate in Scandinavia and the rest of northern Europe, does this fictional conspiracy and the political maneuvering it involves provide insights into other aspects of medieval culture and the ideas that shaped it? What light does it shed on the relations between the Church and the state and on the role of each in the lives of ordinary people? Does Undset's description of Norway during the Middle Ages differ from what you know about the period from other readings or history courses? If so, in what ways?
    
4. How do Kristin and Erlend's feelings about one another change in the course of the book? Which partner do you think is more responsible for the deterioration of the marriage and why? What impact does the birth of their children have on each of them and their relationship as husband and wife? Do Kristin's faith—and her search for redemption—help or hinder her as a wife and mother? Is Lavrans' analysis of their marriage [p.236-7] valid or is it colored by his own experiences and beliefs?
    
5. Discuss Kristin's self-recriminations [p. 334-6] after Erlend is arrested in light of your impressions of their marriage. Why does Simon come to Erlend's aid? Are his motivations purely unselfish? What do their conversations at the prison [p.381-2] and after Erlend's release [p.402] reveal about each man? Do you think that Erlend has gained a deeper understanding of himself by the end of the novel?

Pride seems to be a major theme that runs through this book.  It seems to have an impact on so many characters and in so many ways.  Lavrans pride--keeping Kristin from marrying Erlend at first, Kristin's pride--not telling Erlend her condition before marrying, and then Erland's pride--what he does when he finds out.   

How is everyone else doing?  It looks as though Lazy Cow is enjoying the earlier Archer translation of the book.  I suspect that Heather has other things on her mind at the moment than KL!  It will probably take a bit longer for me to get through the second book than the first, though I still would like to finish everything before the end of October, or at the least before Thanksgiving.  I'd love to hear everyone else's thoughts and experiences. 

Comments

[Lazy Cow]

I'm not reading this whole post until I finish book one, but I'm woefully behind as I'm just finishing Part one. It took me a few pages to get used the the archaic language, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the feisy Kristin, have a soft spot for Arne and feel sorry for Simon. The medieval world is absolutely fascinating. I know nothing about Scandanavian history (I briefly studied Medieval France & England at university) so this is a whole new world for me. I hope to catch up a bit this week!

[Dorothy W.]

The bit about Undset capturing the details of everyday life is intriguing -- I imagine it's a lot of fun to read about.

[Andi]

You know how I mentioned I hadn't heard of this book until all my bloggy buddies started reading it? In a fit of coincidence, I found it this morning among the community college's (where I work) fiction collection, which *might* contain 50 books. And Kristin was one of 'em! I was shocked and pleasantly surprised. Now maybe I'll get to it sooner than later. :)

[Danielle]

Lazy Cow--I know very little about Scandinavia either (this period or any other). I would like to read more as well. I am sure you will zip through the first book once you get going! Glad to hear the Archer translation is working out. It is the one that won the Nobel, so it can't be that bad.
Dorothy--Yes, it is all very new to me. I think that is partially why I like historical fiction (especially the type that is so well done--I guess this would be historical fiction anyway...).
Andi--Well, that tells you something. If it is one of the few books that they have in their collection, it must be a worthy read! Are you going to give it a read?

[Brenda]

I too have finished the first book and am on the second one. It is really good. I am looking forward to seeing what Erland gets himself into in this book. Hmmmmm

I also have not read anything about Norway so I googled Norway and found a couple of sites that were interesting. I wanted to find more pictures of landscapes than I did but I did find this interesting fact.

Literature

A main indoor activity in Norway is reading. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Norwegians read more than any other population in the world, spending an average of 500 kroner a year per capita on books.

Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) is regarded as the father of Norwegian literature, though the modern period begins with the writings of Henrik Wergeland (1808-45). Some of the famous names are Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906), Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910), Nobel Prize winner in 1903, and the novelist Jonas Lie (1833-1908), Alexander Kielland (1849-1906), Knut Hamsun (1859-1952) and Sigrid Undset (1882-1949), the latter two Nobel Prizewinners.
Among the best known Norwegian writers today are Knut Faldbakken, Kjell Askildsen, Roy Jacobsen, Herbjørg Wassmo and Bjørg Vik.

[Danielle]

Brenda--My reading has gotten messed up the last two mornings, so I am not as far along as I'd like to be, but it has a different tone in this book. Kristin seems sadder and a bit wiser--which I think will happen even more as we go. Thanks for all the information. I should look around the library for a picture book of Norway--what a good idea! I'd love to read some contemporary Norwegian fiction (actually I'm reading Per Petterson's book and he is from Norway) or at least other Scandinavian authors. I have read very little of this type of fiction. Thanks for the author names--and how interesting that Norwegians read more than any other group of people! I might just like living in Norway!! :)

[Melanie]

I am so sorry I have been neglecting poor Kristin! I'm about to start Book 2 and will keep these questions in mind as I read. What do you think of Erlend? Do you find him appealing? I think I'm getting old; so far I'm thinking Simon would have been a better choice!

[Mary]

I'm almost done with the first book and the hint that the second has even more detail on daily life has me very excited to get that far. I really enjoy historical novels that put you squarely in the place and time of the characters; you get a good story and a little history lesson. My only problem with KL so far is that its such a page turner I have to remind myself to slow down and soak in that detail. I'm also a bit conflicted about KL's attachment to Erlend, or at least how it's portrayed. It seems like she quickly becomes aware of some of his weaknesses but still is adamant about being with him. Other than the obligation she might feel for having already "given herself" to him, I don't get a strong feel for what she sees in him.

[Danielle]

Melanie--I am not too far into the next book actually. My mornings have been messed up which is when I usually read it. Maybe this weekend I can make some progress. I'm actually with you--Arne and Simon would both have been better choices. I'm not entirely sure what made Erlend so appealing--love at first sight? At first I thought I'd want Erlend, too--so handsome, but I am reconsidering that idea very fast. I don't think she is going to be very happy...
Mary--I also wonder if I am going through the book too fast. I think this is one I could happily reread, though, despite the length!! As for Erlend--it doesn't seem to get any better in the next book, though I am not very far yet!