Catholic A2Z - U is for Undset

Sigrid Undset won the Nobel prize for literature in 1928.  She is one of the world's greatest women authors.  She was born in Denmark but lived in Norway for most of her life.  The work for which she is most famous is the trilogy set in medieval Norway, Kristin Lavransdatter.

The first book in the trilogy is about the title character's childhood up until her marriage to the dashing and dangerous Erland.  The second volume is about her troubled marriage and the third volume continues the telling of her story until her death.  These books are incredible for the way they bring the time period alive.  They are also profound studies in character and in the complex relationships humans have with each other.  I read the first book in my Women Authors class in college and wow, did it make an impression!

Undset started out very much as a secular writer.  She wrote the Lavransdatter trilogy before she converted to Catholicism at the age of 42.  Her subsequent books were influenced by her new faith.  Her book Catherine of Siena is hailed as one of the greatest saint biographies ever written.

Alas, I read the first half of this and then got distracted.  Must, get. back.

While I appreciate Undset's unparalleled writing skill, I admit what I've read of hers so far strikes me as rather bleak.  I do want, at some time, to read her other trilogy written after her conversion, The Master of Hestviken.

Undset was a prolific writer and wrote many other books besides.

A really clever, well done animated short gently making fun of Undset's tendency to melodramatic tragedy is the wonderful The Danish Poet.  I highly recommend it for your viewing pleasure.  It is narrated by the great actress Liv Ullmann.