Kristin Lavransdatter read-along | 2025

I enjoyed the chapters and also all the comments!

In keeping with what others are saying, I kept feeling horrified by Kristin and Erlend's relationship, and at one point my modern head kicked in and I had to tell myself that they're not actually doing anything wrong by today's ethical standards: they're just having an extramarital sexual relationship, and they want to marry someone of their own choosing.

In some ways Kristin seems admirably self-possessed, despite everything. It's interesting that Erlend doesn't actually like her willingness to lie/deceive on his behalf, but as she points out to him, he's the one who led her to behave like that in the first place!

The imposition of the honour code on women can get very oppressive and ugly, but here it seems almost reasonable, because Simon and Lavrans are both so reasonable in their approach to the situation. I suspect that few men in the historical medieval period would have behaved in such an enlightened way.

And if Undset has made the father and the fiance sympathetic, she's done the opposite with Erlend, who comes across as weak and unreliable in comparison. When I think of adulterous medieval couples like Lancelot and Guinevere / Tristan and Iseut, Erlend seems very unheroic in comparison to Tristan and Lancelot. It's not as though Kristin is sacrificing her reputation in order to be with a noble warrior. Erlend blushing with shame when Simon storms their bedroom is very cringe-inducing; you can feel Kristin's mortification.

it's interesting to see that she won't give Erland's name to Lavrans as she doesn't completely trust that he will be there for her and marry her. Good point @TimeforaGandT!

I think that at first she was quite keen on Simon, but the sheer physical attraction to Erlend has completely pushed aside the thought of being intimate with him.

The book highlights the burden of female honour, but both Simon and Lavrans have turned a blind eye to quite a lot of what Kristin has got up to.

Also it points out that men also have burdens of honour. It's clear from the text (although I'm not sure how much Kristin has realised it) that Erlend really is regarded as being something of a pariah in 'decent society'. He is tolerated due to his noble connections, but on the basis that he will atone to Aline and their children. He mixes with the most disreputable and dodgy friends and is committing another social outrage by seducing a very young girl who is betrothed to another.

Last point, details of her parents' marriage are mentioned at the beginning, but it is mentioned again that Lavrans had an arranged marriage with an older woman, who we think was in some sort of disgrace. I don't think he really loves her but has stayed loyal to her even though he had no sons with her, because he saw it as his duty. He must be quite pissed off that Kristin has no intention of following this example.

I agree @MotherOfCatBoy and to be fair it doesn't just seem to be Kristen who is at fault, there are societal expectations on the men too.

It’s conflicting, isn’t it? Because clearly she’s not attracted to Simon, but is having a whale of a time in the sack with Erland. And that’s great, she’s got physical fulfilment and bodily autonomy and all that. But. In those days you got pregnant, and that’s why all that morality was there - to ensure firstly the girl’s best interests (well, sort of) and that there would be someone to take responsibility for the offspring. Much as we might not like the traditional marriage framework, back then it would have been in Kristin’s long term best interests (as long as husband wasn’t abusive) once she had children. She’s too young to take that in yet.

I’ve also been surprised by this week’s chapters. It’s cleverly done as even though I’m horrified by Erlend’s behaviour and Simon’s is exemplary, we can see why Kristin prefers Erlend. I thought Erlend’s mother’s attitude that Kristin should have responded to Simon’s advances a striking piece of historical imagination as possibly wouldn’t have been the norm in the period it was written in?

Interesting about the idea of honour and Kristin’s reputation - much as I like to think I’m too liberal to approve of the mindset, it’s still one that I feel I can step into in a fictional world in a way that the mysticism or religious mindset isn’t available to me. Perhaps i read too much Austen at an impressionable age.

I wasn't sure if her father actually knew all of it - or just that she wanted to break off her engagement. Which is obviously significant. He may be in for more sadness ahead.

Although as someone from more modern times I do slightly rail against the whole concept of honour being linked to female chastity.

I think Kristin is lucky to have such a kind father! It could have gone differently in another household.

Yes, it's so depressing that she thinks it's all her fault - but only where Erlend is concerned! She has let Lavrans and Simon down so badly.
I can definitely imagine Lavrans on the Teenagers forum ...

I thought it was really interesting in the confrontation with Simon, when Kristin saw Erland as Simon sees him - and then instead of getting the ick, SHE feels responsible for him! She’s utterly sucked in. It has all sorts of abusive relationship patterns all over it. Let’s see now if Erland comes through, though I’m almost hoping he runs for the hills.

Enjoyed these chapters and have found it really interesting the way Kristin is being portrayed.

She is enfuriatingly naive and inexperienced, but she is still very young, and is complete putty in Erland's hands. We all know he's a bad choice, but she looks up to him so much.

I liked the way the scales fell from her eyes a bit in the encounter with Simon. She suddenly saw him as others might see him as a cheat and dishonourable. Not enough yet to convince her she's mad, but foreshadowing maybe!?

Me too!

Well now @TimeforaGandT so have I!
I'm afraid that curiosity got the better of me :)

Ok - sounds like 3 separate books to me 😀

FWIW I'm reading the individual books but chapters and even page numbers seem to correspond.

Appreciate page numbers won't when we get to book 2.

I think this is easier as the books are definitely more portable.

I am on a mega catch up (pt1 ch6) and not read the thread, but question, apologies if asked already but avoiding spoilers.

Are you counting each book separately? Or as one book?

@lifeturnsonadime I think you might be on to something, about searching for love in the wrong places because of her mother’s coldness to her.
And @TimeforaGandT you’re right - she could still run a mile…

Well I've finally caught up. Really enjoying this.

But what, oh what, is Kristen doing? I wonder if it's something to do with letting Arne go because of Simon?

She clearly isn't attracted to Simon so is it that the next person that she feels attraction to can't be let go?

I also wonder about her family relationships, does her not having a place in the family from a maternal perspective have a part to play? She knows her mother doesn't love her like she loves her sisters, especially Ulvhild and that she didn't make up for the loss of her other siblings so does this mean she yearns for male attention to make up for that and wanted a child to have that bond she didn't have with her mother?

Agreed @CutFlowers - they do a lot of gallivanting in pretty clothes for a convent!