Even into the 1990s people continue to be fascinated by norwegian author sigrid undset and her lifework. Sigrid undset was the daughter of archeologist ingvald undset. The acknowledged masterpiece of the nobel prizewinning norwegian novelist sigrid undset, kristin lavransdatter has never been out of print in this country since its first publication in 1927. Morality and redemption in the novels of sigrid undset loyola. Her father was an archaeologist, and her home life was steeped in legend, folklore, and the history of norway. Set during a working holiday in rome, then a disheartening return to norway at the turn of the twentieth century, sigrid undsets jenny is one womans heartwrenching journey to determine her own fate. Painting a richly detailed backdrop, undset immerses readers in the daytoday life, social conventions, and political and religious undercurrents of the period. Sigrid undset was a norwegian novelist who was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1928. Reading sigrid undset catholic education resource center. Sigrid undset and happy times in norway sigrid undset demonstrated the greatness of a true artist, telling the simplest stories in such an artless way that the effort of creation barely shows. A novel by sigrid undset free ebook project gutenberg. Yearning for an immortal love, she allows herself to fall into lessthanideal romantic relationships and then has to.
Jenny and art school friend cesca share lodging while they paint in italy. She won the nobel prize in literature in 1928 sigrid undset was born on may 20, 1882, in kalundborg, denmark, the daughter of a distinguished norwegian archeologist and a danish mother. Jenny by sigrid undset, translated by tiina nunnally. As the decades have passed, it has become ever more evident that undsets talent as a novelist places her, along with george eliot, as one of the only two women. Both this influence and her own life story are constantly present in her worksfrom elleve aar 1934. Sigrid undset 20 may 1882 10 june 1949 was a norwegian novelist who was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1928. Like many poor norwegian girls of her generation, undset in 1898 took up the responsibilities of maturity at 16 years of age. My first sigrid undset, jenny is the tale of a woman who is undone by her high moral standards and her desire for true love. Jenny is a novel by the norwegian writer sigrid undset, published in 1911, and regarded as. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. Sigrid undset was born on 20 may 1882 in the small town of kalundborg, denmark, at the childhood home of her mother, charlotte undset 18551939, nee anna maria charlotte gyth. Jenny is a novel by the norwegian writer sigrid undset, published in 1911, and regarded as undsets literary breakthrough. Undset, sigrid article about undset, sigrid by the free. This brooding book can stand with the best of the moderns.
The norwegian novelist sigrid undset 18821949 was internationally acclaimed for the historical novel kristen lavransdatter. She fled norway in 1940 because of her opposition to nazi germany and the german occupation, but returned after the end of world war ii in 1945. Sigrid undset was born in kalundborg, denmark as the daughter of a norwegian archeologist. Sigrid undsets youth, which was the matrix of her artistic message, was far from the carefree happy age that many people today consider the privilege, if not the right, of adolescents. Sigrid undsets life was a heavy one, and it seems if she could not have joy, she was determined to have light. Her early novels of contemporary life, among them jenny 1911. The unknown sigrid undset additionally includes two hitherto unavailable short stories. Cultural, autobiographical, and religious topics constitute a large and interesting portion of her fiction, which in norway is categorized according to the time of action. I wonder if any reader of sigrid undset comes to the master of hestviken first. The hope of regeneration is lacking in this novel as well as in gunnars dahter. Free download of jenny pdf ebook by sigrid undset for windows, mobiles, smartphones or tablets.
Sigrid undset, author of kristin lavransdatter, on librarything. One evening in rome, in the beginning of the last century, two people meet in the street. This new relationship is soon to have tragic consequences for jennys life. Seventy years ago norwegian novelist sigrid undset was awarded the nobel prize for literature. It seems that most find their way here after spending many precious hours, days, and months living the story of kristin lavransdatter. Sigrid undset project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Dive deep into sigrid undset with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. This fascination is manifested in the fact that her works, particularly the books about kristin lavransdatter, continue to be among the bestselling and mostread books in norway. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi. Kristin lavransdatter by undset, first edition abebooks. Sigrid undset uhnseht was the daughter of ingvald martin undset, a distinguished norwegian archaeologist, and anna charlotte gyth from the danish town of kalundborg.
At 46 she was one of the youngest authors and only the third woman to be so honored. In 1924, she converted to catholicism and became a lay dominican. Come in, and please go and sit on the balcony while i get your tea. Emme jenny winge is a norwegian expatriate studying art in rome, part of a bohemian group of friends who explore the ancient city in an intoxicating passion for beauty. You can also read the full text online using our ereader. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The bulk of this volume consists of undsets 1912 novel jenny, which has been out of. The cross is the final shattering novel in sigrid undsets kristan lavransdatter trilogy. Sigrid undset, norwegian novelist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1928. In the first novel, kristins passion for erlend nikulausson led her to break her betrothal to simon andresson.
The protagonist jenny winge tries to make a career as a painter. Undset was born in kalundborg, denmark, but her family moved to norway when she was two years old. Roman by sigrid undset free ebook project gutenberg. She brought out a stool and placed some bread and cheese on it.
Sigrid undset quotes author of kristin lavransdatter. Jenny covered her bed with the counterpane, tidied the dressingtable, and changed her dressingjacket for a long kimono. She and her family moved to norway when she was two. In her great historical epic kristin lavransdatter, set in fourteenthcentury norway, nobel laureate sigrid undset tells the life story of one passionate and headstrong woman. The reality of sigrid undsets early life was the necessity of leaving school and earning her living in an oslo law office. Jenny, a novel depicting a woman defeated both in love and in artistic. Sigrid undsets essays for our time elizabeth scalia. The unknown sigrid undset introduces a new generation of readers to some of these early works.
In it, kristin reaps both the rewards and sorrows of the choices she sowed in the first two volumes. Jenny 1911, an idealistic and tragic love story, is one of the latter novels. Poverty forced undset to do secretarial work for a time 18981908. Sigrid undset norway 1882 1949 undset was born in kalundborg, denmark, but her family moved to norway when she was two years old. She fled norway for the united states in 1940 because of her opposition to nazi germany and the german occupation, but returned after. All my days i have longed equally to travel the right road and to take my own errant path. In kristin lavransdatter 19201922, sigrid undset interweaves political, social, and religious history with the daily aspects of family life to create a colorful. Sigrid undset 18811949 was a writer who was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1928. Set in norway and iceland at the beginning of the eleventh century, this is the story of the beautiful, spoiled vigdis gunnarsdatter, who is casually raped by.
Sigrid undset 20 mey 1882 10 juin 1949 wis a norse novelist wha wis awairdit the nobel prize for leeteratur in 1928. Sigrid undset undset, sigrid, 18821949 a wikipedia article about this author is available undset, sigrid, 18821949. When jenny was published in 1911, undset found herself called immoral this is a side of the free, artistic life that the vast majority of citizens would ra. At twentyeight, jenny is already at an advanced age for any unmarried woman of. She was two years old when her family moved to kristiania, norway. Jenny and other works steerforth press, 2001, and the bestseller smillas sense of snow by danish novelist peter hoeg delta, 1995.