Kristin Lavransdatter (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

The Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy

By: Sigrid Undset, Tiina Nunnally - editor translator, Brad Leithauser - introduction

Narrated by: Nina Yndis, Stephen Graybill

Length: 47 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

"The finest historical novel our 20th century has yet produced; indeed it dwarfs most of the fiction of any kind that Europe has produced in the last twenty years."—Contemporary Movements in European Literature, edited by William Rose and J. Isaacs

"As a novel it must be ranked with the greatest the world knows today."—Montreal Star

"Sigrid Undset's trilogy embodies more of life, seen understandingly and seriously... than any novel since Dostoievsky's Brothers Karamazov. It is also very probably the noblest work of fiction ever to have been inspired by the Catholic art of life."—Commonweal

"No other novelist, past or present, has bodied forth the medieval world with such richness and fullness of indisputable genius.... One of the finest minds in European literature."—New York Herald Tribune

"This trilogy is the first great story founded upon the normal events of a normal woman's existence. It is as great and as rich, as simple and as profound, as such a story should be."—Ruth Suckow in the Des Moines Register

©1997, 1999, 2000 Translation and notes by Tiina Nunnally (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"We consider it the best book our judges have ever selected and it has been better received by our subscribers than any other book," says the Book-of-the-Month Club.

The forgotten Christian Culture

An amazing step into the past. You are enveloped into a truly and fully Christian Culture that our modern age seems to have almost forgotten. A look into a world we're meant to be living in, still fallen, but with eyes constantly set to the goal of heaven because we once lived in a culture that reminded us of this. Kristin is a relatable and endearing character. There are lulls in her story, just like in our own lives, we have moments of peace and tranquility, but the peace is often broken by scandal and sin and you never know which direction your life (or hers) will take after that. It's no wonder this book is a classic. It would do our culture good if this were what our (high school) kids were reading in school.

Epic tale of one woman's life

The story of the life of a Norwegian woman from childhood through her scandalous betrothal, marriage and eventual widowhood. It covers the political intrigues and family crises over fifty years and ends during the Black Death.

Womanhood

It was long, and for an English speaker the names of places and people weren’t easy to remember. I found myself angry and frustrated with all the main characters often and thought how so many of their problems could have been solved through communication. Having said all of that, it was a great book which stays with you. It examines a woman’s life from beginning to end including her roles as daughter, wife and mother-her relationship with God, the world, herself and her own agency. In examining Kirstin’s life the reader is forced to examine their own and ponder universal truths about humanity and all manner of relationships. It’s not a particularly “happy” book, the realities are harsh but I’m glad I got to hear it. Her story will stay with me for a very long while, maybe forever.