The Mistress of Husaby

In Kristin Lavransdatter (1920-22), Sigrid Undset interweaves political, social & religious history with the daily aspects of family life to create a colorful, richly detailed tapestry of Norway during the 14th-century. The trilogy is more than a journey into the past. Undset’s own life, her familiarity with sagas, folklore & a wide range of medieval literature, her experiences as a daughter, wife & mother, & her deep religious faith profoundly influenced her writing. Her grasp of the connections between past & present & of human nature itself, combined with the extraordinary quality of her writing, sets her works far above the historical novel genre. This new translation by Tina Nunnally, the 1st English version since Charles Archer’s translation in the 1920s, captures her strengths as a stylist. Nunnally, an award-winning translator, retains the natural dialog & lyrical flow of the original Norwegian, with its echoes of Old Norse legends, while deftly avoiding the stilted language & false archaisms of Archer’s translation. In addition, she restores key passages left out of that edition.
Undset’s ability to present a meticulously accurate historical portrait without sacrificing the poetry & narrative drive of masterful storytelling was particularly significant in her homeland. Granted independence in 1905 after 500 years of foreign domination, Norway was eager to reclaim its national history & culture. Kristin Lavransdatter became a touchstone for Undset’s contemporaries, & continues to be widely read by Norwegians today. In the more than 75 years since it was 1st published, it’s also become a favorite throughout the world.