“The Bridal Wreath” is the first part of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy, for which author Sigrid Undset won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1928. The books are richly detailed historical novels about a medieval Norwegian woman's life, especially her marriage and family. As she tells the story of Kristin’s life, Sigrid Undset examines the theme of love in many aspects: the fierce love of parents for their children; the experience of falling in love with accompanying physical desire; faithful married love over a lifetime; choosing to forgive a loved one who has hurt you in your deepest self; and hearts that are broken by the loss of a loved one. Another major theme is sin; characters in the book have greater or lesser weight of conscience; some carry the burden of sin lightly, some are crushed by it, and some spend their lives atoning for sins. The reader/listener may alternate between affection, pity, sympathy, and loathing for the characters we come to know in the book. The plot of the story is enriched by descriptions of Norwegian scenery, farm life, dwelling places, cities, and clothing. You may wish to be forewarned about this: the first few minutes of listening will entail an account of family names and places that are mostly meaningless at that point; the story begins once you have heard those names. Furthermore, there is much more weeping than laughter in this book. But most importantly, the characters and events in this book are likely to be very thought-provoking and to leave a lasting impression on you. (Summary by Carol Pelster)
