Classics Review: The Wreath is the first of three volumes in the "Kristin Lavransdatter" saga, written by the third woman to win the Nobel Prize (in 1928), Danish-born, Norwegian-raised Sigrid Undset (1882-1949). This novel is impeccably researched, but doesn't read like an academic or historical novel: it reads like it was written by a modern author observing life in 1309. The detail is that realistic. There are lovely phrases such as "she sat as erect as a candle." The Wreath is a wonderfully written historical romance (at least this far in the tale -- yes there's a love triangle), but emphasizes the historical over the romance and provides depth in its rounded characters. Despite being well-rooted in the time, the modern perspective does peek through, as when a character notes that "ignorant people often spoke of witchcraft as soon as a woman showed herself wiser than the councilmen." There's also a deeper awareness of (here self-destructive) emotions: "She never felt so strongly how much she loved Erlend as when he said such things that make her feel dejected or surprised." The title character is more modern than I imagine was often true at the time: she's seduced (and falls in love with) an excommunicated man and stonily defies her loving and beloved father ("even if I have to trample on my own father" -- teenagers!). The story and the conflict all centers on this strong, passionate, but doubt-ridden 16 year-old girl. She can be both courageous and cruel. The Wreath is a quick, easy, and educational read -- I truly felt like I'd taken my time machine to the land of icy fjords. Now I need to read the next two volumes (The Wife and The Cross), as it seems certain that the seeds planted here will bear strange and bitter fruit in future. [3½★]
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