Why Sigrid Undset still speaks to the Church — and where to start reading

The canonization cause for celebrated novelist and Catholic convert Sigrid Undset is expected to open its diocesan phase this fall. One of Norwayʼs most celebrated writers, her life of faith, suffering, and intellectual depth still speaks powerfully to the Church in a secular age.

Undset’s life was marked by personal challenges, public controversy, and choices that drew social scandal — giving complexity to her witness to the faith. Literary historians have noted that her life was unconventional for a woman of her time: She smoked, drank, swore, and was known for a sharp tongue and strong personality.

Her work reflects the suffering and turmoil she encountered in her own life as well as the transcendent faith she discovered in Christ. She became Catholic at 42 after being raised an atheist.

Below is a list of several of Undset’s books — both fiction and nonfiction — each a starting place to discover more about the work and life of this renowned writer and possible saint.

‘Kristin Lavransdatter’ Set in medieval Norway, Undset’s magnum opus follows the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, a headstrong and passionate fictional character who defies societal expectations. Throughout…