Sigrid undset nobel prize

Sigrid undset catholic

Norwegian writer of novels, short stories and essays who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in and honored by her country with the Norwegian Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav in Born in Kalundborg, Denmark, on May 20, ; died at the hospital of Lillehammer on June 10, ; daughter of Ingwald Undset a distinguished archaeologist and Anna Charlotte Gyth Undset; married Anders Castus Svarstad a painter , in marriage annulled ; children: son Anders b.

Sigrid Undset , whose work was termed "an Iliad of the North," was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in This award was followed by the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav in , which was presented as much for her patriotic activities as for her writing. Although probably most well known for her Kristin Lavransdatter , published in —22, Undset spent decades writing and exploring questions of morality, loyalty, sexuality, and spirituality with particular focus on the relationship between wife and husband.

Her childhood exposure to history, and later meticulous research, made possible the powerful Middle Ages settings in which her most lauded works often found expression. An ardent patriot and anti-Nazi, Undset housed refugees during World War II , was a strong voice of opposition to Nazi aggression, and lost one of her sons to the war after the Nazis landed in Norway in She was born in Kalundborg, Denmark, on May 20, Ingwald, a distinguished archaeologist, has been considered perhaps the greatest influence in Undset's life, though he did not live to see her reach adolescence.

His international reputation was achieved with The Beginnings of the Iron Age in Northern Europe , a book published in While he traveled a good deal for work, the family stayed with relatives until Ingwald received an appointment at the Museum of Antiquities which was associated with the University of Kristiania. Notes Olga S.

Opfell of the young Sigrid's influences: "Almost before she could talk, the little girl babbled of 'blunt-butted axe' and 'shaft-hold axe' when her father showed her various implements…. When the museum was closed, Sigrid was allowed to run about the galleries. If she pointed at some fine things in the cabinets, they were lifted out, and she was decorated with necklaces and rings of gold and silver from the iron age.

While Ingwald provided his daughter with an early passion for archaeology and botany, her mother tutored her in both Norwegian and Danish history from the time Sigrid was five. Undset's grounding in early history would become intrinsic to her literature about life in northern Europe in the Middle Ages.