|
 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
|
