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

"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.

Like a drink of freshwater

This book, albeit it very long, will keep you attentive and interested throughout its entirety.

A Beloved Classic Reread

I first read “Kristen” in high school 75 years ago. Listening to this beautiful performance now has given me enormous pleasure.

The characters come to life in an epic story centered around an ordinary woman in medieval Norway

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.

Like a soap opera but better

Long, yes, but each book got better and better. Not for the faint of heart as there is adult content and strife but the journey of Kristin’s life can resonate with us all.

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.

Wonderful Novel Beautifully Read!

Sigrid Undset's trilogy is of course a brilliant achievement -- psychologically and historically credible, a compelling story of one woman's life, a revelation of the universal pilgrimage to which each is called in his or her own way, capped with the only truly rational outcome, which is total personal surrender to God's call to everyone into the abyss of love. Yet, this listener's attention was held spellbound for over forty seven hours by the perfection of the reading by Nina Yndis -- her tone and pacing invites one to appropriate patience; she does not impose her own interpretations on the text; perhaps best of all she has just enough of a Scandinavian accent to help the English language listener to enter into the sense of place, especially with her correct Norwegian pronunciations of the place names. I learned how to correctly pronounce the name of Norway's capital, which sounds nothing like what I learned in school!

Wonderful characters!

I loved getting a flipped of 14th century Norway. Relationships are still the same. The reader was wonderful.

An excellent book and narrator!

This is such a powerful book. I read with my own eyes and listened to it. The narrator was amazing! I would and hope to read it again.