Sigrid Undset Biography and List of Works

Norwegian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928. Undset is best known for her novels about life in the Scandinavian countries during the Middle Ages. Her early novels deal with contemporary subjects, the problems of city women, as do her later works, in which she returns to the modern world. Often her heroines face tragic consequences when they are unfaithful to their true inner self or idealistically break traditional sex roles.

In his presentation speech, Per Hallström, Chairman of the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy, stated "the erotic life, the problem common to the two sexes, which constitutes the centre of Sigrid Undset's psychological interest, is found again, almost without modifications, in her historical novels. In this respect, objections naturally come to mind. In medieval documents, the feminist question is not known; one never finds hints of the inner personal life, which later was to raise this question. The historian, demanding proofs, has the right to note this discrepancy. But the historian's claim is not absolute; the poet has at least an equal right to express himself when he relies on a solid and intuitive knowledge of the human soul." Undset did not deliver a Nobel lecture, but said in her brief acceptance speech "I write more readily than speak and I am especially reluctant to talk about myself."

Sigrid Undset was born in Kallundborg, Denmark, the daughter an archaeologist. Through her father's influence Undset developed a fascination with medieval history especially the sagas, ballads, and mythology of Scandinavia. Undset derived a realistic view of life from her Danish mother, but she never shared her mother's critical attitude toward religion. When she was two years old, the family moved to Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. Undset's father died in 1893, and the family's financial situation soon deteriorated. At the age of 16 Undset took a job as a secretary in an office to support her mother and two sisters. She worked there for the next ten years, read in her spare time and wrote to her Swedish pen pal, Andrea (Dea) Hedberg. Undset's first novel, FRU MARTA OULIE, appeared in 1907. "I have been unfaithful to my husband," confessed the protagonist in the story of marital infidelity, which shocked some critics. It was followed by a collection of short stories the following year. Her second novel, Gunnar's Daughter (1909), is an imitation Icelandic saga and earned her a government scholarship. She left her job and devoted herself entirely to writing.

Her third novel, JENNY (1911), is partly set in Rome, and depicts with enthusiasm the sights of the Eternal City. "Helge whispered aloud to the city of his dreams, whose streets his feet had never trod and whose buildings concealed not one familiar soul: "Rome, Rome, eternal Rome." And he grew shy before his own lonely being, and afraid, because he was deeply moved, although he knew that no one was there watching him. All the same, he turned around and hurried down toward the Spanish Steps." (from Jenny) In the story a promising young artist, Jenny Winge, tries to compromise between love and her artistic goals. Jenny leaves her indolent fiancé, Helge Gram, and feels attraction to his father, Gert, a failed artist, who leaves his wife. Jenny doesn't want to marry him, she loses her baby who lives six weeks, and travels to Rome where she commits suicide.

After the success of her books, Undset began to travel. In 1912 she married the Norwegian painter Anders Castus Svarstad. She had met him in Rome, where she had moved after her second novel. Undset returned with Svarstad to Norway. Svarstad continued his career as an artist, Undset published several books, took dutifully care of the home, and raised five children - three of them from his previous marriage. They separated in 1919 and Undset settled on a farm in Lillehammer in Gudbrandsdal.

Before publishing her great historical novels, Undset wrote SPLINTEN AV TROLDSPEILET (1917), which focuses on the contradictions between new opportunities for women and their traditional duties. In 1924 she converted to the Roman Catholic faith. In her later novels, such as NORSKE HELGNER (1934), religion plays an important role. Her own religious developed is reflected in GYMNADENIA (1929, The Wild Orchid), DEN BRAENDENDE BUSK (1930, The Burning Bush), and DEN TROFASTE HUSTRU (1936, The Faithful Wife).

Among Undset's masterworks in the 1920s is the trilogy KRISTIN LAVRANSDOTTER (1920-22). It re-creates a woman's life in the devout Catholic Norway of the 13th and 14th centuries. In the first volume, The Bridal Wreath, Undset depicts Kristin's passage to adulthood. Kristin is the proud and beautiful daughter of a prosperous landowner, who marries a basically unworthy man, Erlend. "She understood not herself why she was not glad - it was as though she had lain and wept beneath a warm covering, and now must get up in the cold. A month went by - then two, now she was sure that she had been spared this ill-hap - and, empty and chill of soul, she felt yet unhappier than before. In her heart there dawned a little bitterness toward Erlend. Advent drew near, and she had heard neither from or of him; she knew not where he was." The Mistress of Husaby and The Cross deals with Kristin's marriage, the love and hate relationship with her husband, and her final reckoning with God after succumbing to the Black Death. The novel was followed by a tetralogy known as The Master of Hestviken (1924-27), another medieval tale, in which the protagonist, proud and unyielding Olav, has committed a murder - he kills the lover of his fiancée - which he chooses not to confess and accept church's demands of humility. In both works "the first sin" shadows the protagonists life.

With the exception of MADAME DORTHEA (1939, the only completed volume of a planned trilogy set in the 18th century), Undset's later novels are set in the Twentieth Century. In most of these works, such as The Wild Orchid (1929) and its sequel The Burning Bush (1930), Undset weaves religious themes into her story.

In 1939 Undset lost both her mother and daughter. When the Germans occupied Norway in April 1940, Undset joined the Resistance. The Nazi authorities banned her books. In 1940 her elder son, Anders, was killed during combat. As an outspoken critic of the Nazis, Undset was forced to flee Sweden. She lived in exile in the United States, where her lecture tour gained much publicity. At the end of the war she returned to Norway. Undset was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 1947. She died in Lillehammer on June 10, 1949.

In her work Undset combines knowledge of history with psychological analysis and a powerful style. With the 'domestic epic', a sweeping drama set against a carefully studied social background, she broke a new ground. Undset turned away from the sentimental style of national romanticism in an attempt to re-create the realism of the Icelandic sagas and write so vividly, that "everything that seem romantic from here - murder, violence, etc becomes ordinary - comes to life." In her personal life Undset devoted herself to medieval interests - she restored house dating from the year 1000 and dressed in the gown of a Norse matron of the Middle Ages. In Lillehammer Undset lived a reclusive life, often refusing to open the doors of her house to journalists. In recent years Feminists have criticized Undset's emphasis on women's biological nature, and her view that motherhood is the highest duty a woman can aspire to.

For further reading: World Authors 1900-1950, ed. by M. Seymour-Smith and A.C. Kimmens (1996); Redifining Integrity by Elisabeth Solbakken (1992); Natur og normer hos Sigrid Undset by Liv Bliksrud (1988); Sigrid Undset by C. Bayerschmidt (1970); Sigrid Undset, ou la morale de la passion by Nicole Deschamps (1966); Sigrid Undset by A.H. Winsnes (1953); Six Scandinavian Novelists by A Gustafson (1940); Sigrid Undset by V. Vinde (1930) - Note: Only nine women have received (1901-1997) the Nobel Prize for Literature: Selma Lagerlöf, Sigrid Undset, Pearl S.Buck, Grazia Deledda, Gabriela Mistral, Nelly Sachs, Toni Morrison, Nadine Gordimer, Wislawa Szymborska

FRU MARTA OULIE, (1907)