"Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy. Three complete novels: Bridal Wreath, Mistress of Husaby, The Cross", by Sigrid Undset, translated by Charles Archer, Nobel Prize Edition [first edition of all three novels in one volume] published by Alfred Knopf, New York, February 1929, stated 19th printing on the copyright page and "1937" on the title page.

Hard boards, original green cloth with gold lettering on front board and spine, blind embossed Knopf’s Borzoi mark on the back board [a little soiling, fading: see photos]; 5.1/4" x 7.3/4";1065 pages + Designer"s Note, c.5 pages in the middle have small corner fold, very good condition.

"The Wreath":

"This is the first book in a trilogy set in Norway in the fourteenth century. The central character is Kristin Lavransdatter who we first meet as a young girl spending a good deal of time with her father on visits to various parts of their large estate farm in eastern Norway. Through the father-daughter interactions we, the readers, get an introduction to rural life, farming, social customs and religious beliefs of early 14th century Norway. We also fall in love with the sweet innocent girl that Kristin is at that point in the story.

Later, when Kristin has been engaged to a local notable man, quite a few years her senior, she is unsure about the marriage. Her understanding and caring father agrees with her plea to let her spend a year or so in a convent near Oslo. Through Kristin's experiences in the convent we learn about both 14th century city and convent life.

She may be living at the convent, but her life is certainly not cloistered. She is allowed to go into the city for market and social occasions. Through these trips she meets Erlend who becomes the love of her life. But she is betrothed to another man, so things get complicated.

Breaking the engagement of course has its own difficulties. But it turns out that her new love, Erlend, has had a wife and a paramour with whom he has two children. Kristin's parents think Erlend is an unwise choice for their daughter, so several years pass in which their marriage is forbidden.

They eventually become married by the end of this book, but by then Kristin is pregnant and has been an accomplice in the murder death of Erlend's former mistress. So their marriage begins under the cloud of guilt for grave sin. This is in contrast to the young innocence with which the book began.

"The Wife":

This second book of the trilogy focuses on their married life (about 16 years covered by this book) during which they have seven children.

The husband ends up taking some very reckless action near the end of the book that causes him to be placed in prison by the king. He's headed for certain execution which causes Kristin to exert her influence on an old admirer who in turn lobbies people in power to spare his life. These actions by Kristin are something of a turnaround for her because her relationship with her husband had become distant and cold. But when his life was in jeopardy her feelings of loyalty kicked in.

This book is full of many varied characters with differing strengths and weaknesses. The level of detail regarding everyday life is impressive.

This book is as close one can get to a time machine for a visit to fourteenth century life in Norway.

"The Cross":

This is the third book of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy.

The final years of anyone's life is full of endings, separations and goodbyes. The same was true for Kristin. First she is separated from her younger sister due to an insult given between their husbands. Then when her brother-in-law dies her sister quickly remarries and moves to a distant estate. Then a disagreement with her husband caused him to live separately from her. He is killed when he returns to respond to a rumored scandal. Then her seven sons disperse, get married, or join a monastery. In the end she feels unwanted at her home estate and joins a convent.

The story ends with her showing bravery and strong Christian faith in the face of The Black Plague. In the end she clearly deserves to be honored as a saint—if she weren't a fictional character.

Sigrid Undset won the 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature largely because of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. The trilogy provides a well written portrayal of 14th century Norway." [excerpts from a private review]

Sigrid Undset (1882-1949) was born in Denmark, the eldest daughter of a Norwegian father and a Danish mother. Two years after her birth, the family moved to Oslo, where her father, a distinguished archaeologist, taught at the university. Her father's interest in the past had a tremendous influence on Undset. She was particularly entranced by the dramatic Old Norse sagas she read as a child, later declaring that her exposure to them marked "the most important turning point in my life. In 1920 she published The Bridal Wreath, the first volume of her most famous work, "Kristin Lavransdatter". The next two volumes quickly followed- "The Mistress of Husaby" in 1921, and "The Cross" in 1922. The trilogy earned Undset worldwide acclaim. Undset received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928.

US: Priority (c.2-5 days) ----------- $12.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ------ $32.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ------- $45.50