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Sigrid Undset

The Axe: The Master of Hestviken, Vol. 1 Paperback – November 29, 1994

by Sigrid Undset (Author)

71 ratings

4.2 on Goodreads

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Book 1 of 4: Master of Hestviken

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Set in thirteenth-century Norway, a land racked by political turmoil and bloody family vendettas, The Axe is the first volume in Sigrid Undset's epic tetralogy, The Master of Hestviken. In it we meet Olav Audunsson and Ingunn Steinfinnsdatter, who were betrothed as children and raised as brother and sister. Now, in the heedlessness of youth, they become lovers, unaware that their ardor will forge the first link in a chain of murder, exile, and disgrace.

Soaringly romantic and psychologically nuanced, Undset's novel is also a meticulous re-creation of a world split between pagan codes of retribution and the rigors of Christian piety--a world where law is a fragile new invention and manslaughter is so common that it's punishable by fine.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vintage
Publication date

November 29, 1994
Dimensions

5.18 x 0.67 x 7.96 inches
ISBN-10

9780679752738
ISBN-13

978-0679752738
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From the Back Cover

Soaringly romantic and psychologically nuanced, Undest's novel is also a meticulous re-creation of a world split between pagan codes of retribution and the rigors of Christian piety - a world where law is a fragile new invention and manslaughter is so common that it's punishable by fine.

About the Author

Sigrid Undset is a major figure in early twentieth-century literature. A Norwegian born in Denmark in 1881, she worked with the Norwegian underground during the Second World War, fled to Sweden in 1940, and later came to the United States. She is the author of many works of fiction as well as several books for young readers and a number of nonfiction titles. Her novels encompass a variety of settings and time periods, ranging from medieval romances such as the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy—generally considered to be her masterwork—and The Master of Hestvikentetralogy to modern novels such as The Winding Road,Ida Elisabeth, and The Faithful Wife. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928. Sigrid Undset died in 1949.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0679752730
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; 1st Vintage Books edition (November 29, 1994)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780679752738
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679752738
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.67 x 7.96 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #418,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #291 in Viking Historical Romance
- #2,463 in Medieval Historical Romance (Books)
- #23,297 in Literary Fiction (Books)

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71 ratings

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Sigrid Undset

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Sigrid Undset (20 May 1882 – 10 June 1949) was a Norwegian novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928.

Undset was born in Kalundborg, Denmark, but her family moved to Norway when she was two years old. In 1924, she converted to Catholicism. She fled Norway for the United States in 1940 because of her opposition to Nazi Germany and the German invasion and occupation of Norway, but returned after World War II ended in 1945.

Her best-known work is Kristin Lavransdatter, a trilogy about life in Scandinavia in the Middle Ages, portrayed through the experiences of a woman from birth until death. Its three volumes were published between 1920 and 1922.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Aage Remfeldt / Aage Rasmussen (1889-1983) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

71 global ratings

5 star		62%
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1 star		1%

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XPB

Maybe even better than Kristin Lavransdatter...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 29, 2011

Verified Purchase

I moved on to the other, less well-known historical novel (4 volumes, this is the first) by Sigrid Undset after finishing Kristin Lavransdatter for the 2nd time and being in withdrawal. When I say the Master of Hestviken series is even better than KL, I should qualify that I am pretty impressionable about a book I have just finished. Many similar themes from KL--paying the price for young love--but following the life of a man from birth to death. The same beautiful details about life in midevil Norway, a little less of the interior monologues about religion and faith. I love both of SU's works that won her the Nobel Prize in literature. I am surprised that they and she are not more well known. I read somewhere that she personally preferred the Master series to KL, so maybe that colors my thoughts about which is better. If you love KL, definitely don't miss the Master of Hestviken. If you have never read S Undset before, you are in for a treat (if you like epic fiction set in earlier times, like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky.) I want to reread KL and the Master at every stage of my life, because there is so much profound wisdom in her stories and reflections about the consequences of our choices. One note about the Master series--whereas the KL trilogy has a newer translation with a less stilted, old fashioned English, the Master series has only one translation that is a little challenging to get used to, with its old English expressions. However, you quickly get used to it and can enjoy the story. Also, I purchased Vol. 1 in hard copy, then was in a hurry to continue and read 2-4 on Kindle. I prefer to hold the real book in my hands, and you can find less expensive used copies, but instant gratification won the day. Enjoy!

50 people found this helpful

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Musicals Freak

Deliberately paced, but still a good read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 3, 2016

Verified Purchase

Sigrid Undset's first volume of "The Master of Hestviken" is a very interesting book to read. It is not as fast paced as are most modern novels, but neither is it as slow as some eighteenth century novels such as Richardson's "Clarrissa." It is more deliberately paced. Undset, who died in 1949, had a reputation very very thoroughly researching the background of her novels and the way people actually lived during, in this case, late thirteenth century Norway. However, the Kindle edition does not provide any information about what her sources were. The plot of volume I does not add much to the literary canon. Two small children are betrothed to each other at the ages of seven and eight. They sleep together at fifteen and sixteen, which, under Roman Catholic Church law at the time made them legally married at a time when civil divorce does not exist and ecclesiastical annulments were very hard to get unless one was of royal blood. Various obstacles are thrown in the couples way before they can get together at the end. The most interesting parts of the novel are the descriptions of life and the code of family honor in Norway of the period. Nothing new plotwise but still worth the read.

3 people found this helpful

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JD

Okay Book… Great Ending

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 19, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is the second book by Undset that I’ve read. My first was “Kristin Lavransdatter,” which i far prefer. The majority of this book took a lot of effort to get through. It finally got so much better toward the end. I wish Rhein entire book was better translated into English. That would have made a big difference.

One person found this helpful

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Amanda Ambrose

Not everyone's cup of tea

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

Have lots of friends who LOVE this book. Beautiful writing and deep themes, but painfully slow read. Just not everyone's cup of tea.

2 people found this helpful

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Anonymous

adjusted expectations

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

I ordered 2 Ingrid Undset books because I think Kristen Lavrandstatter is the best novel I have ever read. I am having difficulty with these others and have learned the value of an awesome translator! Not giving up yet but adjusting my expectations.

4 people found this helpful

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Katie L.

Not "Kristin Lavransdatter"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 4, 2012

Verified Purchase

First of all, when I read Sigrid Undset's "Kristin Lavransdatter" I was instantly smitten. Easily it went to my personal top ten list of favorite books. Also, last year I read Undset's much smaller novel "Gunnar's Daughter" and was very pleased with that as well. I guess my expectations were too high with these first two examples, for I was a bit disappointed with this first book in the tetralogy. Don't get me wrong I liked it well enough, but I thought it just wasn't up to standard with her other work. I'll continue with the next three books, so I hope for one of those to blow me away.

8 people found this helpful

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Mattie Engler

If you like historical novels

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

Set in medieval Norway, the story takes you through the thinking and customs of the time in an entertaining and gripping story of family. If you like historical novels, this is probably one of the best, letting you into the times and touching on questions of morality, change, religion and also letting you in on the history of Norway, while keeping you on edge. I have also read the Kristin Lavransdatter series by Undset and have enjoyed them thoroughly. Sigrid Undset is a superb writer, and her novels are not just entertaining, they leave much more.

8 people found this helpful

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refq

THE AXE: THE MASTER OF HESTVIKEN, VOL. 1

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

NOT BEING USED TO SIGRID UNDSET, AND REALIZING THAT ALMOST NO TRANSLATION IS AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND HOW INTERESTING AND WELL-DONE THIS BOOK WAS. AS I HAVE NOT YET READ THE REST OF THE SERIES, I WILL HAVE TO WITHHOLD ANY FINAL THOUGHTS, BUT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT GLIMPSE OF MEDIEVAL SWEDEN. I HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO! RQ

One person found this helpful

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