by Sigrid Undset, 1925
Not as good as first book – very difficult to understand – almost all of it – entangled politics, difficult to pronounce/remember characters. But – still really good! Norway 1300’s.
Kristin & Erlend are married. He takes her to his manor – Husaby. She starts to make things better there. Has 1st son, Naakkve – almost kills her. She has a ton of guilt over her and Erlend’s premarital sex. She does penance – walks 20 miles barefoot with Naakkve – spends time at a church – then returns. Many years go by (well, maybe only 10) – she has 6 more sons: Naakkve, Bjorgulf, Gaute, twins Skule and Ivar, Munan, and Lavrans. But, she bears a grudge against Erlend all the while. She cannot forgive or forget any wrong he ever did her. Almost destroys them. Finally, she realizes what he means to her after he is arrested for high treason and faces death. He is imprisoned and found guilty. While waiting in prison, Simon, the man Kristin’s father, Lavrans, wanted her to marry but she spurned for Erlend, arranges very difficult meetings that finally get the king to release Erlend. Simon is such a sweet man – he never stopped loving Kristin, yet he is not bitter. He does end up marrying her little sister when she is 15 and they have a daughter and finally a son after 6 years.
Even though so much I couldn’t understand, it’s still a great book!
Her dear father, Lavrans, and her mother, grow old and die in this book. Kristin marvels at the love Lavrans and her mother, Ragnfred, have at the end of their lives – deep, deep love She never saw it while growing up.
Erlend loves, her, adores her, puts up with her bitterness and unforgiving heart and stays true to her until he decides on a whim after many, many years to have a fling with Lady Symiva (not sure, I can’t read my writing). She’s the one who turns him in for treason after he spurns her. Turns out she read some of his letters.
Kristin’s father ends up liking Erlend and respecting him and scolds Kristin for her meanness to Erlend.
None of their 7 sons dies -all are able to make it out of infancy. They are all handsome lads.