World Reading Project 1: Norway

World Reading Project, Book #1

Norway

The Wreath, by Sigrid Undset , 1920

The first book I read for my World Reading Project was The Wreath, the first book in the Kristin Lavransdatter series by Sigrid Undset. Clay gave it to me as a gift, for my birthday I think.

Published in 1920, this is a historical fiction novel about a young woman, Kristin Lavransdatter, growing up in 14th century Norway (I didn't know much about Norway- this is after the Viking Age, when Norway has been Christianized). It's the first book in a trilogy that follows Kristin through her life.

Amazon's description of the book begins with "Kristin Lavransdatter interweaves political, social, and religious history with the daily aspects of family life to create a colorful, richly detailed tapestry of Norway during the fourteenth-century." The book was way more dramatic that this description would lead you to believe. Some kind of crazy things happen. I don't really want to give things away, but I really liked this book and am very intrigued to read the other two books and see how Kristin's decisions pan out and how the rest of her life goes.