"Kristin" is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it many times over the years and it is ever new! When I was young, I identified with the young Kristin; now that I am older, I identify with her parents! Sigrid Undset won a Nobel Prize in 1928, primarily for this novel, one of the best Catholic novels ever (although I understand she did not actually convert until it was published!). It's best point is that the worldview is actually that of a 14th century Catholic woman, and NOT - as with so many works of "historical fiction" - a kind of "time travel" in which the author takes his or her 20th century language and views and tries to transpose them backward in time.

Just avoid the modern translation! The older English translation is slightly archaic, avoids ridiculous fake medievalisms, and really makes you not only speak but THINK as a 14th century Catholic would.
mt | 05.12.06 - 4:46 pm | #

mt, thanks for the comments. I'm enjoying the book very much so far for the points you mention.
AmericanPapist | Homepage | 05.13.06 - 7:46 am | #

Did you make it through "Kristin"? What did you think of it?
Thanks too for mentioning the GK Chesteron "Life and "Themes" work.
FrElms | 05.15.06 - 12:24 pm | #