Gunnar's Daughter (Penguin Twentieth-century Classics) |
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Sigrid Undset
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Pages: 208 (Paperback)
ISBN: 014118020X
Pub: Penguin Books Ltd
Pub date: 1998-04
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 252588
Reader Reviews:
Utterly gripping (9/9 people found this helpful)
I won't try to give a plot breakdown as the synopsis covers it. This book is a real gem, I really couldn't put it down. Don't be put off by the fact that it's based on the Icelandic saga form, because this writing has a beautiful flow and it's a quick read. It is, however, a difficult story which has been handled beautifully.
One of the best books I've read in a long time.
Fast-paced tale with wonderful Scandinavian folklore... (6/6 people found this helpful)
Sigrid Undset's Gunnar's Daughter weaves Scandinavian folklore, mythology and violence to ensnare the reader into the period of the Saga Age. In this book, we meet Vigdis Gunnarsdatter -- a survivor in many different levels who is raped and delivers an illegitimate child. As it is said that time heals old wounds, that is not the case with Vigdis. Even with her eventual redemption, peace of mind still eludes her until she takes her very last breath. The scope of history and folklore in Gunnar's Daughter makes this an interesting and quick read. However, it is highly recommended that the reader marks the introduction and notes by Sherrill Harbison -- as they provide much information that makes the book more insightful and pleasurable to read.
This powerful, disturbing tale deserves a new audience. (5/5 people found this helpful)
Gunnar's Daughter is a tale of passion and revenge, a work of historical fiction which will be appreciated by readers of Kristen Lavrensdatter and of women's fiction in general. The introduction tells you everything you need to know to appreciate the disturbing tale.
Harbison knows Sigrid Undset thoroughly. (6/6 people found this helpful)
This new volume of a truly gripping story is made more enjoyable by the all emcompassing introduction of Undset biographer, Sherrill Harbison. She points out all the important considerations a reader needs to think about to fully understand this saga of Norway and Iceland.
Any secondary school trying to include books from other cultures in the curriculum should add Gunnar's Daughter to its list. The story is timeless, and young people would find great discussion material on such topics as romantic attraction, family loyalty, reputation and honor, women's (girl's) options and power compared to men's power in different cultures in history, and the power of societal laws over people's lives.
A fast-paced novel by a great Norwegian writer (2/2 people found this helpful)
Gunnar's Daughter is a surprisingly fresh tale of love in medieval Scandanavia, written by the Nobel Prize winning Norwegian author, Sigrid Undset. This new translation is fast-paced and gripping, guaranteed to keep a modern reader turning the pages to the end, which will be a surprise. I could not put it down. As an added bonus, the introduction by Sherrill Harbison provides a fascinating examination of Undset's remarkable life and career. Highly recommended. One of the great short novels.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> World -> Scandinavian
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> U -> Undset, Sigrid
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Short Stories -> Historical
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> The Classics
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)