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Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Work Made Much, Much Better
Review: (Note: My review is of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy as a whole work, rather than about Penguin's three individual volumes. I felt very much caught up in the forward movement of these stories and didn't really see them as separate "books". And, of course, the original Kristin was published in one volume of three sections.)As a reader who has more than once during the past 40 years tried to read the clunky Archer version of this wonderful work, I can only add to the praise given the Nunnally translation. I just this summer finished the final volume of Kristin Lavransdatter, and can recommend it to anyone wanting to be immersed in a terrific, panoramic medieval tale full of all those things that make for a great story: love, hate, valor, treachery, sin, redemption, etc.- all that good stuff. Kristin and husband Erlend form the core around which this remarkable story is built; they are believably human, noble, fallible. Undset's special strengths are her characters, narrative thrust and, finally, in her wonderful descriptions of the wild, beautiful landscape of medieval Norway. Yes, this is one of those daunting, big fat historical novels. However, this newest incarnation does justice to a wonderful work of world literature; to my mind, anyone willing to invest the time in reading it will be rewarded many times over.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars for the story, not the translation!
Review: I cannot comment on the quality of the Tiina Nunally translation. I do not know Norwegian, so I cannot say whether the new version is batter than the old. Really, I like them both. My rating is based on my love of Undset's novels. This was the first one I read, having stumbled upon it while shelving books in my college library. I opened the book and was spellbound. I spent the rest of the day reading The Wreath, then went on to read the other volumes. I had never been to Norway, and had never heard of Sigrid Undset, but it seemed as if I had always known these people and their world. I still get that feeling, and I have re-read Kristin Lavransdatter many times since then. Others have mentioned their appreciation of the story for its strong portrayal of an individual trying to find her own path in a highly structured society. I agree. But another thing I have loved about Undset's writing is the way she blends vivid observations of the world of nature with detailed pictures of the human society in which her heroine lives. I think this is what made the book so convincing to me. At the time of her story, even the most wealthy and powerful people lived lives that were essentially rural. Although Undset follows her characters through religious strivings and political intrigues that modern people can relate to, Kristin and her family are firmly grounded in the daily life of an agricultural community. They had to aware of weather, the seasons, and the cycles of plant and animal life in a way that many modern people can no longer experience, except through literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Translation
Review: I find it interesting that most of the division on this book still stems from the translation. Nunnally is an excellent and faithful translator of Norwegian. To answer the one reviewer as to how some of us feel qualified to judge, there are some of us who do read Norwegian. I was shocked at the liberty Archer had taken with Undset's works, going so far as to change the titles (the original titles do in fact translate as The Wreath, The Wife and The Cross, not as Archer's overwrought titles). Nunnally's translation returns dignitiy and immediacy to the work. One reviewer noted that the story need not have taken place in the middle ages but in almost any century. This is one of the main points and the Undset's use of a contemporary idiom enforces this impression. Finally we can read this novel not just as some medieval costume drama but as a timeless story of love and morality and judge it on its literary merits. It is also heartening to see that Nunnally has now also given us a new translation of Jenny. Finally Undset is some much needed attention.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Translation
Review: I find it interesting that most of the division on this book still stems from the translation. Nunnally is an excellent and faithful translator of Norwegian. To answer the one reviewer as to how some of us feel qualified to judge, there are some of us who do read Norwegian. I was shocked at the liberty Archer had taken with Undset's works, going so far as to change the titles (the original titles do in fact translate as The Wreath, The Wife and The Cross, not as Archer's overwrought titles). Nunnally's translation returns dignitiy and immediacy to the work. One reviewer noted that the story need not have taken place in the middle ages but in almost any century. This is one of the main points and the Undset's use of a contemporary idiom enforces this impression. Finally we can read this novel not just as some medieval costume drama but as a timeless story of love and morality and judge it on its literary merits. It is also heartening to see that Nunnally has now also given us a new translation of Jenny. Finally Undset is some much needed attention.
Rating: 
Summary: Nunnally v. Archer
Review: I first read K.L. in 1982 (the Archer translation), and was unable to put it down until I had finished all three volumes. I have questions to ask of some of the other reviewers who loved the new translation: How can they be sure the new translation lets Undset's "genius shine through?" How can they be so certain this is a "better" translation? Undset was writing 100 years ago and was describing a time much longer ago than that -- I consider this new translation anachronistic and artificial. IMHO what has been accomplished is the "Classic Comics" version of a great trilogy. I'm saddened by the acclaim this is receiving.
Now -- on the other hand -- it is a good story, whether superficially translated or not. So -- read it. Better yet, gentle readers, read BOTH translations -- all the way through -- and make your own decision.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Historical Novel
Review: If you like historical novels, this is the book for you. Sigrid Undset meticulously researched life in Norway during the Middle Ages, and she brings that world to life for us in her classic trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter. The story is great to boot. Undset won the Nobel Prize for literature, and this is her finest work. The Wreath is the first novel in the series, and in it we follow Kristin as she comes of age. She is a passionate girl, and this is the story of her passion. We might want to read the tale as the story of a girl overcoming the obstacles of her era to realize her dreams, but there is more to the story than that. Kristin's romance with Erland Nikulausson creates havoc in all the lives around them. Undset was a convert to Catholicism, and this is a Catholic novel. Kristin finds her true love, yes. But will it bring her true happiness? Undset presents the heroine's plight with sympathy, but she presents the consequences of her choices with honesty. This first novel sets the stage, and in the next two we will follow on Kristin's journey to know herself and the world around her. It's a great novel about a great life. While Kristin is the focus of the novel, Undset also fully brings to life her family and friends. We meet some great characters along the way. From Arne Gyrdson, Kristin's devoted childhood friend to Fru Aashild, the wise woman who teaches her much about the ways of the world, to Brother Edvin, the saintly monk who offers her spiritual direction, we meet characters that we will long remember. The relationship of Kristin's parents Lavrans and and Rangfrid is especially poignant. To enter gingerly into the translation wars, I have read both versions. For myself, I prefer this one. The archaic language of the Archer translation does give us a sense that the book is about a different world. The problem is that the people in the middle ages would not have sounded archaic to themselves. By presenting the language in a modern vernacular, we have the chance to encounter these people on their own terms. And that allows us to enter into the true difference of Kristin's world - which lies in the difference in values and attitudes. Undset does this almost seamlessly... we are so drawn in that we don't quite realize that we are seeing the world in a very different way. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding historical fiction with profound human insights.
Review: The first book in Sigrid Undset's trilogy recounting the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, "The Wreath" is an insightful coming-of-age story set in Norway during the Middle Ages. We follow the spirited and headstrong Kristin through her childhood and young adulthood, up to her marriage to Erlend Nikulausson of Husaby. Along the way, Kristin must traverse the confusing realms of love and religion, learn to accept responsibility for her decisions, and face the consequences of her actions. Undset clearly has a marvelous grasp of human psychology, and the exploration of Kristin's emotional and intellectual development is fascinating.
Though Kristin is the protagonist in the story, the narrator does not focus solely on her, but also gives us glimpses into the lives of those around her, including her parents, her beloved Erlend, a kindly monk named Brother Edvin who counsels Kristin in spiritual matters and how she must maintain honor for herself and her family, and Fru Aashild, a wise woman and Erlend's aunt, who gives Kristin advice on both spiritual and day-to-day life, and how she can find peace for herself. The relationship between Kristin's parents is particularly stirring and thought-provoking, offering a striking contrast with Kristin's own romantic experiences.
When Sigrid Undset attempted to find a publisher for her first attempt at a Medievally-set novel in 1904, she was told: "Don't attempt any more historical novels. You have no talent for it" (pg. xi). But she was not deterred, and the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy displays an immense talent for historical fiction indeed, earning Undset the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928. Published in 1920, "The Wreath" is a masterfully crafted and captivating story. It can be read on many different levels but, unlike much of classic literature, it is also fully enjoyable and self-standing as a story alone. There is no need to dig for deeper meaning in order to appreciate Undset's work, though material for further analysis can certainly be found if one wishes to take a more critical approach.
This particular edition (1997 Penguin Classics printing, translated by Tiina Nunnally) is beautifully translated. The words flow so smoothly and the imagery is so vibrant and lively that it's hard to believe it wasn't originally written in English. I have not read the older Vintage Classics translation (entitled "The Bridal Wreath") myself, but the students in the European literature course for which I read this book that were unfortunate enough to purchase that version all expressed frustration at how difficult it was to read. I can assure you that the Penguin Classics version isn't challenging at all, and would highly recommend it. Though set in the Middle Ages, the dialogue is presented in more or less modern language, which is easier to comprehend, whereas the Vintage version uses difficult, archaic speech.
"The Wreath" was followed by two more novels that continue the story of Kristin Lavransdatter. "The Wife" (the Vintage version is entitled "The Mistress of Husaby") appeared in 1921, and concerns her married life with Erlend and their children. "The Cross," which delves further into Kristin's spiritual life and her struggle to come to terms with herself and her life, was published in 1922 and completes the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Nunally does a service to Undset
Review: When I was about 12 I tried to read Kristin Lavransdatter, and gave up quickly. The Archer translation was filled with "difficult" language: medieval archaisms seemed to slow down the language somehow. Kristin was written in the 1920s and takes place in the middle ages, but the archer translation (the one most readily available) alienated me from it so much that I gave up. Nunally's language is fresh and clear. It doesn't have the artificial ring of a translation. I don't know Norwegian, but I feel like she stayed as close as she could to Undset's original syntax and language. Oh, and the story is great, too. The timeless problems of forbidden love, children born out of wedlock, and familial conflicts are presented through the eyes of a perfectly ordinary woman: Kristin Lavransdatter. It's been said she was the first perfectly real woman in all literature. In "The Wreath," the reader encounters Kristin's early life to her marriage and the difficult decisions she makes. Nunally writes of Kristin's actions without condemnation, but with compassion. I think this impartiality gives the book more power. THe reader is left to judge Kristin. Also, this is not one of those overwrought books in which every sentence must be analyzed for symbolism. One can read into Kristin Lavransdatter on many levels, but it does not consist wholly of linguistic capering as so many modern novels do. At the very least, it's just a great story with some extremely memorable characters. Undset was the first woman to win the Nobel prize for literature, and largely because of Archer's *hesitation* LOUSY translations, she's fallen into obscurity in the USA, at least. Hopefully with the advent of Nunally's fresh new translations of Kristin Lavransdatter and Jenny, Undset will once more reappear on the literary landscape.
Rating:
Summary: Nunally does a service to Undset
Review: When I was about 12 I tried to read Kristin Lavransdatter, and gave up quickly. The Archer translation was filled with "difficult" language: medieval archaisms seemed to slow down the language somehow. Kristin was written in the 1920s and takes place in the middle ages, but the archer translation (the one most readily available) alienated me from it so much that I gave up. Nunally's language is fresh and clear. It doesn't have the artificial ring of a translation. I don't know Norwegian, but I feel like she stayed as close as she could to Undset's original syntax and language. Oh, and the story is great, too. The timeless problems of forbidden love, children born out of wedlock, and familial conflicts are presented through the eyes of a perfectly ordinary woman: Kristin Lavransdatter. It's been said she was the first perfectly real woman in all literature. In "The Wreath," the reader encounters Kristin's early life to her marriage and the difficult decisions she makes. Nunally writes of Kristin's actions without condemnation, but with compassion. I think this impartiality gives the book more power. THe reader is left to judge Kristin. Also, this is not one of those overwrought books in which every sentence must be analyzed for symbolism. One can read into Kristin Lavransdatter on many levels, but it does not consist wholly of linguistic capering as so many modern novels do. At the very least, it's just a great story with some extremely memorable characters. Undset was the first woman to win the Nobel prize for literature, and largely because of Archer's *hesitation* LOUSY translations, she's fallen into obscurity in the USA, at least. Hopefully with the advent of Nunally's fresh new translations of Kristin Lavransdatter and Jenny, Undset will once more reappear on the literary landscape.
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