Book Review
Apr. 27th, 2004 10:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Master of Hestivken
by Sigrid Undset
This book is actually a series of four: The Axe, The Snakepit, In the Wilderness, and The Son Avenger. It's the tale of the life of Olav Audunsson, a member of the landed gentry in late 13th century Norway. It's very long and filled with plenty of beautifully written detail about medieval life in Norway. The main concerns of the book seem to be the ways in which a man's sins can shape his life, and about the balance of good and bad in a person's character. The story also explores to a lesser degree a society caught between the laws and ethics of two systems: the old ways of pagan times (as in many of the sagas) and the newer ways organized around Christianity. Some of Olav's moral dilemmas stem from the conflicts between the two ways of judging between right and wrong. There is also quite a bit of exploration of sin, repentance, redemption, and forgiveness. However, the writing is never preachy.
Unfortunately, I did find that while it was very interesting in most parts, some places really dragged. The Master of Hestivken is not quite as good as Kristin Lavransdatter, Undset's other work set in medieval Norway. The characters in The Master of Hestikven are not as strong - not in Undset's portrayal of them, but in their natures. Olav and his family are just not as interesting or dynamic, which causes the narrative to lose some drive.
by Sigrid Undset
This book is actually a series of four: The Axe, The Snakepit, In the Wilderness, and The Son Avenger. It's the tale of the life of Olav Audunsson, a member of the landed gentry in late 13th century Norway. It's very long and filled with plenty of beautifully written detail about medieval life in Norway. The main concerns of the book seem to be the ways in which a man's sins can shape his life, and about the balance of good and bad in a person's character. The story also explores to a lesser degree a society caught between the laws and ethics of two systems: the old ways of pagan times (as in many of the sagas) and the newer ways organized around Christianity. Some of Olav's moral dilemmas stem from the conflicts between the two ways of judging between right and wrong. There is also quite a bit of exploration of sin, repentance, redemption, and forgiveness. However, the writing is never preachy.
Unfortunately, I did find that while it was very interesting in most parts, some places really dragged. The Master of Hestivken is not quite as good as Kristin Lavransdatter, Undset's other work set in medieval Norway. The characters in The Master of Hestikven are not as strong - not in Undset's portrayal of them, but in their natures. Olav and his family are just not as interesting or dynamic, which causes the narrative to lose some drive.
