Kristin Lavransdatter read-along | 2025

[TimeforaGandT]

Following on from The Count of Monte Cristo read-along in the first half of 2025, we are reading Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset for the second half of 2025.

The medieval epic tells the story of a passionate and headstrong woman from childhood in three books : The Wreath, The Wife and The Cross.

It’s a majestic 1124 pages in the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition which has been translated by Tiina Nunnally and this is the edition I am using for page number references. Kudos to anyone who is reading it in the original Norwegian.

There are 67 chapters in total (if I have counted correctly) and the consensus is to read three chapters a week / one every two days with Sundays off. I have ignored the Introduction as part of the read-along as, in my experience, there are often contain spoilers.

Starting on Monday, 7 July our first week looks like this:

The Wreath – Part 1 (Jørundgaard)

Monday / Tuesday – Chapter 1 (pages 5 to 21)
Wednesday / Thursday – Chapter 2 (pages 22 to 37)
Friday / Saturday – Chapter 3 (pages 38 – 47)
Sunday – day off

I will try and tag all those who have previously expressed interest.

Second comment is to say to @cassandrethat I absolutely understand why you want to talk so much about the Heptameron - what an absolutely amazing text and author to get to write about! (I’m immensely impressed).

What you said about Héloïse in the convent was so interesting as the expectation of her taking the veil must have been that she repented of her affair. Re Kristin Lavransdatter and your point about what makes a good historical novel, one thing that I did think was anachronistic was that Kristin feels so bound to Erlend once their affair has started. While I can understand that emotionally, practically I wonder if she actually had more choices than characters did in later (and Protestant) novels in that she is an heiress, so someone may well have been willing to marry her, and she also had the option of going into a convent (which from what we see in the novel is quite a comfortable life). Other than that, I think the book balances really well the need for authentic detail with the needs of plot and readability as what happens to Kristin feels very plausible as well as being very compelling to read.

As time gallops by (in the book as well as IRL), we are reading the following chapters this week:

Part 2
Chapter 5 (pages 501 - 519)
Chapter 6 (pages 520 - 538)
Chapter 7 (pages 539 - 550)

Can we get through the week without Kristin having another child?

Unusually, I am actually on track with my reading.

I agree with the comments from others in that the chapter with Kristin and Orm visiting Gunnulf was very depressing but it was interesting to pick up in the later chapter that, maybe, Gunnulf was saying that what he thought was best for Kristin was not necessarily actually what was best for her (although he quickly corrects this misstatement).

Very sad to see Orm die as he and Kristin had a real connection and, in Erlend's absence, a good companion for her. Poor Erlend too who loved Orm but didn't show it in the way he dealt with him.

Do you think we will find out more about the mystifying death of Fru Aashild?

So relieved that Kristin has had a couple of years off from being pregnant as I think she can only be 24/25 and has now had six pregnancies. Erlend whinges about her always being pregnant but doesn't seem to make the link! It makes me laugh that his sexual dalliances with the Finns don't count as infidelity.

Looking forward to this week as I see Simon is back in the narrative from the opening words of the next chapter.

It is making me laugh that Erland persists in being so dim! But in real life I imagine he would be insufferable. Many people seem to like him but they don’t have to live close up with the consequences as Kristin does.

Haftor’s attempted seduction and Kristin’s obliviousness was also very funny.

The chapter with the illness that threatened their children and killed Orm was awful. I’m assuming a measles outbreak?

Having looked forward to seeing Simon again, I am now feeling slightly queasy after Chapter 5. I know that age-gap marriages were usual in those times and that girls were considered marriageable from a young age but I can't help viewing it with modern eyes. Although, Simon said the right things, his actions were contradictory.

I noticed a distinct change in the tone in Chapter 5 - it felt noticeably ironic in the part describing the discrepancy between Simon’s expectations and reality. Simon was also portrayed as very young during his engagement to Kristin (whereas in the last book I felt he came across as almost middle-aged so presumably he seems older than his years).

The story of his marriage was sad - even though it was his choice it was clearly a rebound match and another case of a wife’s affection not being returned. It also suggests that it was difficult to get the social access to someone to work out if they would be a suitable spouse: Simon has clearly got close enough to his widow for her to work out that she is attracted to him - but not close enough for him to realise that he is repelled by her.

I felt that Simon’s second marriage was something that Ramborg wanted and that Lavrans wanted to keep his daughter out of Erlend’s power. Simon seems a bit overwhelmed by it all. As @TimeforaGandTsaid age gap marriages were useful, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sigrid Undset shows the problems with them.

I was shocked reading through chapter 5 given Ramborg’s age - 10 when they get acquainted, 12 when she is regularly sitting on his lap, 14 considered old enough for betrothal and 15 when they marry. Yuk. I know it was legal and customary back then but she’s just a child.
I also thought this was written through Simon’s gaze - he presents himself as a responsible older man, but as @TimeforaGandT notes, doesn’t rebuff Ramborg or make sure he never touches her - quite the opposite. It’s Lolita-like. When they first met and she was described, with her dress and flushed cheeks, I assumed she was an adult. It’s only later you realise how young she is, highlighting how Simon sees her. Ugh.

Belated thanks for the kind words @Benvenuto; I'm super lucky in that I get to write about my favourite books as part of my job (although to be honest my post mostly consists of teaching, with the research taking a back seat and progressing very slowly!).

I hadn't thought of the similarities between the fates of Orm and Arne - very true. @MotherOfCatBoy I suspect Orm died of the plague or Black Death; the historical timing is right, I think.

I agree with everyone else that the Lolita vibes of the relationship between Simon and Ramborg are not pleasant! Maybe in Undset's time the idea of a man getting to know his future wife when she is still a child seemed less disturbing, but from today's perspective it feels worryingly like grooming. I do remember in War and Peace that the heroine Natasha is scampering around as a little girl in front of her future husband, and Tolstoy kept describing her as kitten-like. Ugh.

I'm curious about Ramborg's motivations for being so keen to marry the older, stout, double-chinned Simon. Is she really in love with him? Maybe her main motivation is to be a proper grownup and have a husband and a household of her own (a kind of implicit rivalry with her older sister Kristin). At least she doesn't seem traumatised the morning after her wedding night...

It's interesting to me that if a man marries a rich woman (as was the case with Simon and his first wife), he can't inherit her money after her death unless they have a living son.

On another topic, Lavrans' criticism of Kristin's lax parenting left me very much on Kristin's side. Although I'm sure Erlend is fairly rubbish as a father and hasn't helped out much with parenting, it can't be an easy task for Kristin to keep five small boys in line. Lavrans is from an older generation and thinks he knows best, although he has never had the chance to parent any boys himself, much less a whole horde of them so close in age! That said, some of the boys' behaviour IS pretty appalling: the way they killed poor Ramborg's sheep, for example. It would all make good material for an MN thread ('My DF keeps telling me how to parent my children - AIBU?') and I can see people arguing both sides, ha. I would say, 'OP, you don't really have a DF problem, you have a DH problem'.

I found the scenes/conversations between Kristin and Lavrans, and the one between Lavrans and Ragnfrid, very moving. It looks as though Lavrans is not long for this world 😥

Chapter 7, oh, I cried! Lavrans! He’s always been strict but the parting scene between him and Kristin was beautiful. They had chance to really see and know each other and say goodbye with so much love. I thought what he said about her struggling like a colt whenever she really loved someone was very perceptive.

Agree @cassandre that you would expect the father to be a strong role model for so many boys. Erland not doing enough, again.

Can we get through the week without Kristin having another child?
Apparently not!

With Kristin due to have her sixth child (hopefully not twins again), we are reading the following chapters this week:

Part 2
Chapter 8 (pages 551 - 570)
Part 3
Chapter 1 (pages 573 - 587)
Chapter 2 (pages 589 - 602)
(Hopefully the page numbers are correct but taken from Kindle version as I have finally succumbed having been travelling too much and unable to lug the brick of a paperback on planes and trains).

I am not optimistic that Lavrans will survive the week but let's see....

Having moved on from my squeamishness over Simon and Ramborg, it was good to pick up the relationship between Kristin and Lavrans again.

I have sympathy with both regarding their differences on behaviour. It's difficult being a parent and spouse in your own parent's house as inevitably there is some regression to the original parent/child relationship. I suspect that Lavrans comments on the childrens' behaviour was not unwarranted but equally Kristin has her work cut out looking after five boys and Erlend will be completely hands off as a disciplinarian and, no doubt, call Kristin a spoilsport if she tries to curb their behaviour when he has been playing Disney dad.

Fair play to Lavrans for standing up for Erlend when Kristin is being critical of him (given his feelings for Erlend) but perhaps better not to interfere. Erlend is very accepting of Kristin's behaviour and not taking her to task.

I am torn as to whether Kristin should have come clean to Lavrans about her early behaviour with Erlend. Whilst honesty is obviously a good thing, so much time has elapsed that I am not sure there was any benefit to telling Lavrans (other than making Kristin feel better) and it shattered illusions that Lavrans had clung to and changed his view of Simon too.

Touching chapter with Lavran's and Kristin's farewell. How hard to not know whether they will ever see one another again and to accept that it is unlikely.

I must say Erland is looking rather fine is those red boots....especially next to pudgy Simon. Shame he has to go and ruin it all shortly afterwards.

(Just realised I may be a chapter ahead - ignore me!)

I think the Simon - Ramborg marriage does show up a problem of accuracy re historical novels - that people did marry at an age where now they would be legally a child and this can be uncomfortable to read about. It’s also complex because medieval people did have boundaries that aren’t initially apparent when you first read about people getting married at a younger age than today - for example I know that medieval people did think some ages were too young through reading about Margaret Beaufort being pregnant at 13, but less about what age they would think were sufficiently mature although 15 / 16 does seem possible. Age gap marriages did happen & some were reputedly happy (apparently Edward I had a happy second marriage despite an enormous age gap) but then the old man with a young wife is a stock figure of comedy for writers including Chaucer.

One thing that makes the marriage hard to interpret is that we know very little about Ramborg’s feelings although there are hints that she was keen to marry Simon. We’re also told that Simon is good with children and that Ramborg and Ulvhild were fond of him. There are also hints that Simon is still fond of Kristin. It will be interesting to see the eventual direction of this marriage.

What is clear, is that this marriage is not good for Kristin. For much of the book she has been portrayed very positively- faithful wife, devoted mother, capable at managing her estates - but since the marriage we see a much more spiteful side to her (more like what we saw in the first book). She resents that Ramborg has the cradle, that Simon has altered his house for Ramborg’s comfort and that Lavrans clearly gets on better with Simon than Erlend. I did like how Lavrans’ relationships with his son-in-laws was portrayed- although Erlend has turned out much better than expected it felt that Lavrans just doesn’t see him as an adult and equal (whereas Simon clearly is seen as both).

Although I agree with @cassandrethat Kristin has a DH problem re her children, I do think that she has a slightly different DF problem in that neither Erlend nor Simon quite match up to Lavrans - as each has one aspect of Lavrans (Erlend the good looks and Simon the competence and status). Kristin rejected Simon because he wasn’t sufficiently attractive but she isn’t happy with Erlend as he isn’t as capable a landowner and father.

As for the badly behaved children, I have a lot of sympathy with Lavrans’ view as the death of Ramborg’s sheep was inexcusable.

I was also pleased that Lavrans and Ragnfrid made peace with each other. I think that suggests that companionship in marriage is to be valued.

I wanted to use the laugh emoji for this! but maybe an eyeroll is better 🙄

I agree @TimeforaGandT that it would have been kinder on Kristin's part not to have told her father so much. They were reconciled by the end, however. He does love her unconditionally; he's a model parent in that regard.

@Benvenuto I agree that Kristin has a spiteful or non-angelic side, but maybe that just makes her more human.

neither Erlend nor Simon quite match up to Lavrans - as each has one aspect of Lavrans (Erlend the good looks and Simon the competence and status)
That's a very good point.

About marriage, I like the fact that this saga goes into such depth portraying different marriages. Medieval love stories in contrast usually stop once a couple is married; here we get to see the aftermath. It's another aspect of the novel's realism, I suppose.

Sad chapter this week with Lavrans death.

We are reading the following chapters this week:

Part 3
Chapter 3 (pages 603 - 619)
Chapter 4 (pages 620 - 635)
Chapter 5 (pages 637 - 652)
(Page numbers taken from Kindle version so may be 1 out in places)

Hopefully no-one will die this week but time will tell....

Back with an update later.

I'm sorry I've fallen by the wayside.
I'm trailing along!

I am also trailing as it was too heavy to take on holiday. I am catching up - and I am enjoying it!

Although Lavrans' death was sad, it brought together his family and friends and it was interesting to see the interactions between Kristin, Ragnfrid, Ramborg, Erlend and Simon. I quite like the concept of sitting in my smart bedding in my own dwelling to receive people (but wouldn't want to be popping babies out as frequently as Kristin)! Interesting to read that it was considered bad luck to name someone after a living person - very different to other cultures where it's often traditional to name children after parents.

I am surprised that Simon is spending so much time with Erlend and Kristin. He seems to be a man who does not hold a grudge but he is not friends with Erlend and they are very different so I imagine it's pretty irksome. Erlend seems oblivious to how he is perceived by others and rarely makes an effort to temper his behaviour to surroundings or events. It's fortunate that Simon is not physically attractive as otherwise Kristin would definitely be regretting her choice.

Not surprised how things unfolded with Margret. Erlend spoilt her rotten to make up for her birth but it has ended in tears. Sad that Erlend tried to blame Kristin both for Margret's behaviour and his own failings and seduction of her.

Kristin's life feels pretty miserable with very little enjoyment. She and Erlend are either apart or sniping at one another, she seems permanently exhausted and rundown (as you would be with six sons and a house to run) and she appears to have no female companions or friends

Hoping for a week without any deaths and for things to improve for Kristin!

Thanks @TimeforaGandT !

It's fortunate that Simon is not physically attractive as otherwise Kristin would definitely be regretting her choice. Ha ha, very true.

I was glad that Ragnfrid found peace at the end of her life - though she died young by modern standards, as I believe she and Lavrans were only in their 50s?

It's not pleasant to read about women being accused of sorcery. Though Erlend telling the archbishop that he passed the magic love talisman onto someone who continued to have no luck with the ladies was comical!

Kristin realising that her parents were actually people, and not just parents, was a powerful moment I think. It's true that when you become an adult and a parent yourself, it gives you a different perspective on your parents.

And every time my feelings toward Erlend soften a little, he does something else outrageous that makes me hate him again. It's not just the fact that he attacks and maims Margret's lover that is so awful, it's the fact that he is furious at another man for doing the same thing he did himself! Which Kristin points out to him. The hypocrisy is mind-boggling. And as you say TimeforaGandT, he then has the temerity to blame Kristin.

The text says of the Margret episode that nothing had ever humiliated him so deeply. What he cares for first and foremost is his own reputation. Yet realistically, no one has done as much to damage his reputation as he himself has!

I agree that Kristin's life isn't looking rosy. Her parents are gone, and she's the responsible adult now (as the title The Wife makes explicit).

I should say that those comments were all about last week's chapters as I haven't got started on this week's yet...

Thanks cassandre - wait until you read this week's chapters as things turn from bad to worse for Kristin and Erlend's behaviour plumbs new depths.

I’m behind as we’ve been away. Just finished the chapters for last week, I need to catch up on this week. So I’m up to Margret’s marriage.

Erlend is appearing increasingly narcissistic- not taking responsibility, only concerned with his own reputation, always covered in the bling of the day. He has men swearing loyalty to him and thinks he knows how to run the country. Hmmm. He’s not improving with age. Whilst Simon, whilst still unattractive and now older, continues to be sensible and responsible.

It’s sweet the way Kristin now sees her parents. It’s interesting that she now sanctifies her mother a bit and berates herself for her own ongoing “sin,” but we know that Rangfrid’s inner life was equally tortured and Kristin would have known nothing of that. She’s doing herself a disservice really.