Kristin Lavransdatter II：The Wife

InKristinLavransdatter(1920-1922),SigridUndsetinterweavespolitical,social,andreligioushistorywiththedailyaspectsoffamilylifetocreateacolorful,richlydetailedtapestryofNorwayduringthefourteenth-century.Thetrilogy,however,ismorethanajourneyintothepast.Undset'sownlife—herfamiliaritywithNorsesagasandfolkloreandwithawiderangeofmedievalliterature,herexperiencesasadaughter,wife,andmother,andherdeepreligiousfaith—profoundlyinfluencedherwriting.Hergraspoftheconnectionsbetweenpastandpresentandofhumannatureitself,combinedwiththeextraordinaryqualityofherwriting,setsherworksfarabovethegenreof"historicalnovels."ThisnewtranslationbyTinaNunnally—thefirstEnglishversionsinceCharlesArcher'stranslationinthe1920s—capturesUndset'sstrengthsasastylist.Nunnally,anaward-winningtranslator,retainsthenaturaldialogandlyricalflowoftheoriginalNorwegian,withitsechoesofOldNorselegends,whiledeftlyavoidingthestiltedlanguageandfalsearchaismsofArcher'stranslation.Inaddition,sherestoreskeypassagesleftoutofthatedition.Undset'sabilitytopresentameticulouslyaccuratehistoricalportraitwithoutsacrificingthepoetryandnarrativedriveofmasterfulstorytellingwasparticularlysignificantinherhomeland.Grantedindependencein1905afterfivehundredyearsofforeigndomination,Norwaywaseagertoreclaimitsnationalhistoryandculture.KristinLavransdatterbecameatouchstoneforUndset'scontemporaries,andcontinuestobewidelyreadbyNorwegianstoday.Inthemorethan75yearssinceitwasfirstpublished,ithasalsobecomeafavoritethroughouttheworld.