Ida Elisabeth: A Novel
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.89 (671 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 158617424X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 425 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-01-21 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
As she contemplates marrying again, Frithjof, now gravely sick, re-enters her life.Unlike Undset's famous historical novels, which are set in medieval Norway, the story of Ida Elisabeth opens in 1930. Undset's descriptions of the Norwegian people and countryside coupled with her profound understanding of the human heart won her worldwide literary acclaim. Early in their marriage, she realizes that her charming husband is incapable of supporting the family and she sews dresses to make ends meet. In this compelling drama about fidelity, sorrow and forgiveness, Nobel Prize-winning author Sigrid Undset tells the story of Ida Elisabeth, who marries her teenage sweetheart, Frithjof, in an effort to redeem her reputation. Both are powerfully displayed in this moving st
Christina M said A must-read for fans of Undset. As a fan of Sigrid Undset's works, I was very happy to see that Ignatius Press is reprinting some of her lesser-known novels. I hope to see more from them in the future. Undset is a Catholic writer in every sense of the word - her appeal is universal but the subtle themes of faith echo throughout her works. Ida Elisabeth is considerably less epic in scale than Kristin Lavransdatter or Olav Audunsson, but no less enjoyable for all that.Like Undset's more famous heroine, Ida Elisabeth is another woman who finds herself paying the price for romantic re. Ida Elisabeth The lessons learned and the mistakes made by the main character are of the kind that grip half the air in your chest and hold on to it; the writing is great! I'm about to circle my way back to the book with a fresh cup of coffee to nestle in and read it's last pages. I may be reading Ida Elisabeth again.. Resurgence? I can't tell whether there is a resurgence of appreciation for this great writer or just a group of true readers capable of recognizing a true craftsman. As I cited in a bad review of the book, here is an example of how Undset renders her imagined world of her protagonist:"the grey light of a summer evening. She could feel a rain coming. Between the trees and little houses she could glimpse the sea with the reflected light on the water beyond the pier. The air was laden with the smell of the beach and of the hay which hung drying on the slopes. Ther
She sees the real world in which people face the bitter consequences of selfish choices and in which suffering is unavoidable and yet potentially redemptive. The heroine's journey takes place within the evocative landscape of 1930s Norway but in many ways, it is a timeless portrait of the loneliness and guilt suffered by so many men and women when marriages break down. It will ring true with contemporary readers living at a time where marriage is so little appreciated and supported by society. ---Fiorella de Maria, Author, Poor Banished Children. In her acclaimed historical fiction, Undset shows us that the acceptance of suffering is the beginning of wisdom and also, paradoxically, the path to peace and lasting joy. ---Joseph Pearce, Author, The Quest for Shakespeare<