Men, Women, Places: Portraits & Studies

by Sigrid Undset

Men Woman and Places

Genres: Nonfiction

186 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1939

About the author

Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian novelist whose powerful, psychologically rich works made her one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century. Best known for her medieval sagas Kristin Lavransdatter and The Master of Hestviken, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928 for her vivid portrayals of life in the Middle Ages, written with remarkable historical detail and emotional depth.

Born in Denmark to Norwegian parents, Undset spent most of her life in Norway. After her father's early death, she had to forgo formal education and worked as a secretary while writing in her spare time. Her debut novel Fru Marta Oulie (1907) shocked readers with its opening confession of adultery and established her bold, realist style. In early works like ,i>Jenny (1911), she explored modern women's struggles with love, freedom, and morality, often critiquing romantic idealism and social expectations.

Though she gained recognition for her contemporary novels, Undset felt increasingly drawn to historical fiction. This shift led to her masterwork Kristin Lavransdatter, a trilogy published from 1920 to 1922, which follows the life of a woman in 14th-century Norway as she navigates love, faith, motherhood, and spiritual growth. With its intricate character development and deep moral themes, the trilogy brought her international acclaim and remains a cornerstone of Scandinavian literature.

In 1924, Undset converted to Roman Catholicism, a profound personal decision that shaped her later writing. Her tetralogy,i>The Master of Hestviken (1925–1927) centers on a man burdened by unconfessed guilt, offering a deeply spiritual and psychological portrait of sin and redemption. Her Catholic faith and concern with ethical questions became central to her work and public life.

A vocal critic of both communism and fascism, Undset fled Norway after the Nazi invasion in 1940. Her books were banned by the occupying regime, and she lived in exile in the United States during the war, advocating for Norway and the Allied cause. The loss of her son in the war deeply affected her, and although she returned home after the war, she published little in her final years.

Undset’s legacy rests not only on her historical novels but also on her fearless exploration of conscience, duty, and the human condition. Her characters—especially her women—are fully realized, flawed, and emotionally complex. Her writing combines psychological insight with stylistic clarity and spiritual depth, making her work enduringly relevant and widely read.

Reviews

[Tom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

slowly progressing through all things Undset - this book was a delight and as any good book it has lead me to buying several books more, a Penguin Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H.Lawrence and a 1954 edition of Weeping Cross by Henry Longan Stuart. / The last two essays were travelogues - so very well done that I wish Sigrid Undset had written some as complete books. / I found a $25 mint first print copy of Men, Women and Places which made the reading all the more pleasant - Sadly I accidentally knocked it off my desk and sent it flying - only slightly dinged but still...at times my superior powers of klutzdom, amaze me. / Of the essay on D.H. Lawrence – in some ways his parents remind me of my own - though dad was never a drinker – dad worked the second shift and when he got home the late night, every-night, scream fests would begin - I hated it – “later on she could never forgive him for this love-match, which shut her off from all she desired to get out of life” – that, along with other heavy burdens, was crushing and it lasted to the end of their days – my own failures did not help. / Overly churched as a youth David Herbert wound up antagonized against religion - again, familiar. Had D H lived longer he may have changed course but that is of course moot. / Ithyphallic: an interesting take as vanity and pain.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hooray for Pomona Public Library for being around for over 100 years! Consequently it has old books. This long out of print collection of essays by the author of Kristin Lavransdater probably hasn't been checked out in years. Still there it was waiting for a lone fan girl who loves a good essay. Sigrid has a clear eye and steady voice as she discusses Spiritualists, D H Lawrence, and Glome.

Representative Quote:

"It is unthinkable that any grown-up human soul that has experienced a personal relation with Him can feel it to be anything but blasphemy when God is reduced to a sort of cornucopia on top of a cosmic wedding cake."

Indeed.