Kristin Lavransdatter read-along | 2025

Well, I imagine I'm not the only one feeling a bit shell-shocked after chapter 7! Powerful stuff.

i thought these last two chapters described very well the awful psychological effects of sexual assault, even if 'nothing happens'. The guilt and shame, made worse by the victim blaming. Learning that everyone's been gossiping about it behind your back all this time, and you can longer feel comfortable in your own home village.

The fear of physical contact with her future husband, something they implied that she was quite eagerly curious about before.

Interesting that the men seem to be more understanding than the women in the aftermath - especially Simon.

Just posting my thoughts:
Chapter 2 was a bit of a swerve, I was expecting to read about Kristin’s birthplace, but we spent most of the chapter on religion. That’s partly a reflection on the time the book was set and it was noticeable to read about how devout Lavrans is (despite being a knight & popular etc.). I also wondered about whether it reflected the time of writing too - I can remember being a bit surprised when I first read Katherine by Anya Seton how much religion drove that plot even though it being reissued as a great romance (not sure if that book is the best English comparison for Kristin Lavransdatter, but it is the only one I can think of written in early - mid 20th century about roughly the same historical period). Chapter 2 was also a lesson for me to control my reading as I zoomed into Chapter 3 (still working on that as I suspect I’m a chapter behind at present). Someone posted up thread that they didn’t expect to see the monk again - I wasn’t sure about that but I did expect to read more about religion. When the monk does appear a bit later, there was the interesting contrast between how the characters respect his holiness, but the maid quickly cleans up after him as she doesn’t want to catch his lice (my sympathy is with the maid).

I found Chapter 3 quite hard reading as it starts so well for the characters and particularly the relationship between Lavrans and Ragnfrid - and then there is the awful accident. I also wondered about why Ragnfrid favours Ulvhild over Kristin and about the secrets in Ragnfrid’s past, especially after we are told that Ragnfrid is surprised that Fru Aashild hasn’t mentioned the fact that they knew each other earlier. I also wondered if Fru Aashild’s tale has some reference to Ragnfrid’s past. Like others, I was disappointed by both the descriptions of Fru Aashild’s husband and Simon - even though the latter is described as handsome, he really doesn’t sound attractive in how he is described.

Final observation is about the names many of them sound very different to modern names and I wonder if a Norwegian reader would find the same. In contrast if you were writing about the same time in England (like Katherine that I mentioned earlier), many names would still be in use today.

I also need to add that I’m really enjoying the read along - both the book itself and finding so much to discuss.

You'll know what the relevance of the wreath is by the end of the first book 🙂

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on that passage. All very good points to consider and very plausible.

I remember the fabliaux from my college days cassandre. The comparison is very apt!

I must look up the link. I am wondering what the reference to the wreath in the title is. Usually a symbol of enduring union...?

@MotherOfCatBoy that's interesting about the Tolkien link! My guess would be that Tolkien got the figure of the elf queen with the wreath from somewhere in Norse mythology, rather than directly from the Undset books. So he and Undset may have had a common source? He was an expert in Norse mythology; there's a wiki page on that, although it doesn't mention queens with wreaths:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_and_the_Norse

I didn't understand Fru Aashild's comment about fat/thin men either; maybe it will be illuminated later as you say, @TonTonMacoute . I wondered if she was implying that Simon would be more likely to have extramarital affairs, but I have no idea whether that theory is right or not.

Fru Aashild's raunchy tale about the magic bath that turns women back into virgins reminded me of medieval French fabliaux (comic stories that often have implausible elements relating to sex). The twist of the young bride missing the chance to conceal her lack of virginity, and her elderly mother-in-law turning back into a virgin instead - that could easily be a fabliau plot.

I agree @TonTonMacoute that Kristin sees marriage primarily as an economic transaction arranged by her father; that would be very typical of the time.

Kristin's near escape from rape in Ch. 6 is pretty gruelling. It's interesting that she doesn't confide in her parents about it.

Welcome to the newcomers!

i'm late to the party but just starting this today. Very excited, looks wonderful and just the kind of historical saga I like.

For Lavran marriage is about land and property, consolidating his position by allying his family to another powerful family. Kristin seems to have accepted this from a very young age, as has Arne, although now they are older they have realised the downside.

I'm sure Lavran would choose as nice a husband as possible, and I can't imagine him forcing her to marry someone she didn't like, but I can't imagine him letting her marry Arne, who has nothing, either.

It's interesting, because until Anne's departure K was quite into the idea of Simon.

Just a quick pop in to say there are character lists available but they contain a lot of spoilers so I wouldn't look for one yet.

Just caught up today but think I may need to find a character list as there were a lot of things happening in that last chapter

I wondered whether the physical comments about Simon might be in contrast to Lavran. Early in the book there's a description of Lavran looking like a knight even when he's travelling wearing simple clothes. It could be contrasting the attributes of a knight - tall, slim, physically fit with Simon. So maybe he doesn't quite live up to Kristin's idealised idea. Yet Lavran does seem to approve of him, not just because his family but also due to his character. Kristin less so, almost as though she's trying to convince herself.

May I join in please? I read the first one last year before we went to Norway and I have just bought the second to read before we go back in September, but I will enjoy a reread of The Wreath

There’s a bit of comparison with Arne going on (and the way Lavrans is described) that might hint that Simon isn’t as lean and muscular as them, so therefore perhaps not as hard working? We would see this as outdated now but in their society, maybe fat = lazy?
Did make me laugh when Kristin thought he bounced everywhere like a ball…

Thanks TonTon! We will have to wait and see!

Yes, I thought that was a bit obscure too, but I think we were meant to because Kristin doesn't know either, and I think we will gain understanding when she does.

I'm trying to figure out why Fru Aashild doesn't approve of Simon for being fat and cheerful. Kristin doesn't fully understand and neither do I. Has it got to do with the sin of gluttony, overindulgence? Maybe it's shameful to enjoy food too much. Finding a thin, melancholy friend doesn't sound much fun but it fits in with a frugal, puritanical way of life.

Yes, and there is a lot going on there with the brother, Trond, who has now stormed off. Perhaps lots of backstory and some explanation for Kristin’s mother’s state of mind?

Fru Aashild is very good at defusing potentially difficult situations. An interesting character - surely there must be more to her husband than meets the eye.

@MotherOfCatBoy No, it’s called Winters in the World by Eleanor Parker.

It’s quite a short book and is divided into the seasons. I read it all at once but I might re read it a season at a time.

Was it “The Anglo Saxon Year,” @TonTonMacoute ? I found that v interesting, the grafting of Christianity onto the Old Gods, as it were.

As an aside, I wonder if Tolkien read this before he wrote LOTR? There’s something very Goldberry about the elf woman with the golden wreath.

(Have been catching up, finished chapter 3, loving it, the descriptions of nature are beautiful and Kristin’s perspective is excellent).

Agree that they let Kristin get up to all sorts for such a treasured daughter - I too was thinking, Oh no! When she went off with the artistic monk!

Agreed TonTon. He doesn't sound much of a catch!

Poor Ragnfrid. She is such a deeply unhappy woman. It's strange that the secret from her past involves Fru Aashild who is spending all the time in her home without acknowledging they knew each other before.

Things certainly warming up in chapter 4. Poor old Ragnfrid has a lot on her plate, with her annoying DB plus some secret in her past.

I'm a bit disappointed with Fru Aashild much younger husband though, fat and balding and a bit arsey by the sound of it.