They are watched by Bentein, a man who desires Kristin & attempts to rape her as she returns home. Arne isn’t considered suitable to offer Kristin marriage &, on the evening that he leaves Jørundgaard for a new job, he asks Kristin to walk with him in the forest to say goodbye. She is friendly with one of her father’s workers, Arne, who is in love with her. She also helps to care for her young sister, Ulvhild, who was injured in an accident & needs constant care. Kristin grows up to be beautiful & kind, working hard on the farm & continually reminded of her obligations by her mother. Kristin’s family has considerable status within their local farming community. These pagan elements of witchcraft & otherworldly beings are a theme that recurs throughout the story. Kristin is terrified by this apparition that seems to hint at the pagan elements of the country, even though it is nominally Christian. On one of these journeys with her father, Kristin wanders away from the campsite & sees a mysterious “elf maiden” beckoning to her from the other side of the river. She has lost several sons, & when the story begins, has only Kristin. Her mother, Ragnfrid, is a quiet, melancholy woman. She is very close to her father, Lavrans Bjørgulfsøn, & enjoys nothing better than being taken on journeys through the countryside as he inspects his property around their farm, Jørundgaard.

Kristin is a seven year old girl living with her parents in 14th century Norway. The story of Kristin is told in three books & I’ve just finished the first, The Wreath.

I was reminded of the book when reading Willa Cather’s letters as she knew Undset in New York in the 1920s. But, I didn’t pick it up until a few weeks ago. Why has it taken me so long to start reading this book? Dani at A Work in Progress read Kristin Lavransdatter back in 2007 & that’s when I bought this gorgeous Penguin Deluxe edition.

Kristin lavransdatter book