Reading Kristin Lavransdatter - Week 1

One week down.  130+ pages read.  I have a feeling that it might not take three months to read Kristin Lavransdatter--all three books.  I'm not sure if it is Tiina Nunnally's excellent translation, but I have found it quite easy to lose myself in Kristin's story.  Rather than stopping at my one chapter a day, I am finding myself wanting to continue on and read more. 

The first book of the novel (there are three: The Wreath, The Wife and The Cross) is made up of three sections.  I am now working on the second section of the first book.  The story of Kristin Lavransdatter is played out against the rich tapestry of 14th century Norway.  According to the reader's guide:

"The trilogy is more than a journey into the past. Undset's own life—her familiarity with Norse sagas and folklore and with a wide range of medieval literature, her experiences as a daughter, wife, and mother, and her deep religious faith—profoundly influenced her writing. Her grasp of the connections between past and present and of human nature itself, combined with the extraordinary quality of her writing, sets her works far above the genre of 'historical novels'."

The story begins with a 7-year old Kristin traveling with her father to their mountain pastures where she will encounter the "elf maiden".  This is a frightening experience for her and her father.  Although Christianity is already emerging, pagan/Norse myths must also have still been rampant.  I get the feeling that Christianity is going to be an underlying theme throughout the novel.  Undset herself was a convert to Catholicism.  Kristin seems to have a particularly strong bond with and respect for her father.  As always, I hate to give away too many details of the story.  I will say Kristin is about 15 when she meets the man she will fall in love with, despite the fact that she is already betrothed.  You can already see trouble ahead, which will no doubt play out in the next two novels.  This is where I am at in my reading.

Undset wrote these novels in the early 1920s--the modernist era of literature.  I thought it was interesting when I read (also in the reader's guide) that Undset's approach was that of realism rather than romanticism.

"In depicting her country's vanished culture, Undset, like others in the Modernist era, rejected the romantic view of the past prevalent in mid-nineteenth century literature, music, and art—from Tennyson's fanciful retelling of the Arthurian legends, Idylls of the King to Wagner's musical interpretations of Germanic myths to the dreamy paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite artists. Her realistic, unvarnished approach, as A.H. Winsnes notes in his biography, Sigrid Undset: A Study in Christian Realism, has led many scholars to call her 'The Zola of Middle Ages'. Undset's ability to present a meticulously accurate historical portrait without sacrificing the poetry and narrative drive of masterful storytelling was particularly significant in her homeland."

For those who are also reading, how is it going?  Are you finding the writing easy and accessible?  Are you enjoying the story?  I will post the questions from the reader's guide for The Wreath below, as they might come in handy to think about while we read.  I actually have only read some of the questions as I'm not sure if there are any spoilers.

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The Wreath

1. The Wreath is set at a time of transition in Norway: Christianity, which had been introduced in the late tenth century, was spreading, but the older pagan forms of worship and belief lingered. How does Undset's description of Kristin's encounter with the elf maiden [p. 19]—and Lavrans' reaction to it—epitomize the collision of the old and new belief systems? What other examples are there of the family's inability to abandon age-old traditions and superstitions despite their devout Christianity? For instance, what is the significance of Fru Aashild's attempt to cure Ulvhild when the prayers of the parish priest fail to work the miracle Rangfrid longs for?
    
2. Does Kristin acquiesce too readily to her father's selection of Simon as her future husband? Does she agree to the betrothal because she feels genuine affection for Simon or is she primarily motivated by her love and respect for her father? How does Kristin's relationship with Arne deepen your understanding of the social attitudes and assumptions she lives by? Why does Simon's sympathetic and compassionate reaction when her reputation is questioned increase Kristin's ambivalence toward him?
    
3. Discuss Undset's use of elements drawn from medieval ballads, chivalric legends, fairy tales, and other traditional stories in her depiction of Kristin and Erlend's meeting and courtship. What particular motifs do you recognize? What themes, events, or characters represent Christian beliefs? How do these "archetypal scripts" enrich the story for readers? In what ways do Undset's narrative style, her depiction of the natural world, and her language create further links to the past and its storytelling traditions?
    
4. Which one of Kristin's two suitors appeals to you more and why? How do their attitudes about Kristin—and about love and marriage—differ? In what ways are they similar? Are there contradictions between traditional standards of morality and those imposed by the Church? Does Erlend take advantage of Kristin's innocence and inexperience or does she share equal responsibility for initiating their love affair? To what extent does the very secrecy of their relationship strengthen the tie between Kristin and Erlend? Why does Lavrans finally to consent to the marriage? What impact do the pleas—as well as the suggestive comments—of Erlend's noble kinsmen [p. 250] have on his decision? Why does Kristin begin to have doubts after her betrothal to Erlend is announced?
    
5. Kristin, Aashild, and Eline all sacrifice their reputations and moral integrity when they give into their sexual longings. Were their transgressions justified in the light of subsequent events? Do their lovers suffer to the same extent from the condemnation of society and the pangs of conscience? Does Undset's depiction of the consequences of adultery reflect the moral conventions of the time or does it represent a more universal truth?

Comments

[Kailana]

Thanks Danielle, now I want to read this! haha, I am not sure if that is a grateful thanks or a big sigh as I add another book to the TBR pile thanks.

You have read a lot of interesting books this year. What's your favourite so far, just out of curiousity.

[Dorothy W.]

The theme of paganism/Christianity sounds very interesting -- I'd love to read more about the shift between the two. I'm glad to hear this is such an engaging read.

[Dark Orpheus]

Hey, nice of you to add the reader's guide - although I'm still progressing slowly. Still only on Page 24. Hee.

But it's not because the writing is difficult. (It's because I'm reading Into The Wild instead) In fact, it's very accessible and I like the details of the provincial life, the country, the colour, the taste of the 14th century Norway.

I also enjoyed the fun details like the children trying to baptise the piglet and getting trashed by the priest for it.

And Kristin's mother, who says such unexpected things that can stun a warhorse in its charge. Things like, "Are you so happy then, my daughter, to be going so far away from me?" That single statement says so much about this woman - a little self-pitying, a little resentful, maybe even a little manipulative, and oh, so very passive-aggressive.

[Danielle]

Kailana--I'm always happy to enable another reader! :) Actually I am enjoying this one, and if it sounds appealing--I do recommend it! I have read a lot of good books this year--It might be hard to choose just one. Just off the top of my head I think Cheri and the Last of Cheri by Colette is my favorite, but there were several others that come to mind that I really liked as well--Tess by Hardy, The Welsh Girl by Davies, Excellent Women by Pym....
Dorothy--I have a feeling that the religious aspect is really going to come into play later in Kristin's life. It's interesting how KL's life sort of parallel's Undset's.
Dark Orpheus--I am sure you will easily catch up once you get going on it. The Krakauer book is hard to put down when you start it! I agree KL's mother is something! She seems a bit the martyr to me--she certainly blames herself lot. You'll see more of this as you go. Everyone seems happy that KL takes after her father!

[Heather]

Glad to see you are enjoying it too! I just finished the second part of book 1. I haven't read much this weekend, unfortunately, there was too much going on. I hope to read more tomorrow though.

I have been fascinated by the way Kristin approaches her religion as opposed to how others think it should be approached, or rather, how she was taught. A lot happens in the second part that surprised me.

[Danielle]

Heather--I am a bit behind you. I have a feeling that her approach to religion is going to change vastly when she is older. I'll be interested to see. The story is surprisingly modern, isn't it? At least it feels that way--maybe that's why it reads so easily?

[Heather]

I was having that feeling too; how modern it seems to be! Of course, I don't know too many children crippled by farm animals, but many of the family issues are very familiar. And I expect you are right, that her religiousness will change as she gets older. Isn't that what happened to Undset? I hate introductions, so I didn't read it.

[Brenda]

I too am reading KL and are a little bit further than you Danielle. I read a lot over the weekend but yesterday I just couldn't pick her up. Too busy around the house. I am also reading Fingersmith which I read a little yesterday. Too many good books to read and so little time.

[Danielle]

Heather--I usually also avoid introductions, too, but I did read this one. I wish I hadn't as it gave away details, but I guess I already had an idea of what happens in the book. Still, I prefer not knowing too much ahead of time. Undset did indeed convert to Catholicism, so I have a feeling she wrote about this in KL to some extent. It sounds as though she was pretty religious.
Brenda--Is this the second time you are reading KL? If so, how does it compare to the first time? I totally understand about getting busy. And I read Fingersmith not too long ago--I found it very hard to put that book down. Enjoy! :)

[Mary]

I'm also finding KL a surprisingly easy read; the kind that makes you stay up a bit too late finishing another chapter. One of the features that I've particularly enjoyed are the simple but vivid descriptions of the natural world. On her first trip into the mountains I could almost smell the trees and feel the wind in my face. And in another scene she's outside at night listening to the sound of melting snow and watching clouds race across the night sky. There are many more such references that are both beautiful and a reminder of the bigger role that nature played in daily life of 1340.

[Danielle]

Mary--I've also been enjoying the passages dealing with nature. It's quite an eloquent book really in many respects. I'm so glad I finally picked it up to read!

[Brenda]

No, this is the first time I am reading it. It was recommended many years ago but I never could get through it as job and family prevented it and the library would only let me have it for two weeks - that was back in the olden days. lol

[Melanie]

I'm rereading the first book, skimming it, as I just read it starting in January, but I'm nearly at the point where I stopped before. I agree, the style of writing is strangely modern - not the content or even the vocabulary, but I suppose the way she writes without excess verbiage, and the subjects she chooses to focus on. I'm with Mary also on how much I enjoy her descriptions of nature and the differences between Kristin's mountain home and the cities she encounters later.

[Lazy Cow]

I agree with the other posters about the natural world. There is something Hardy-ish about the book. Not that Unsted writes like Thomas Hardy, but her love of nature shows through in her words. I'm finding my old edition, in spite of some of the language, modern in feel too. I keep reminding myself that's why classics are so named: because they appeal across the years!