Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset's life at Bjerkebaek, her retreat in Lillehammer, Norway

Inside the Gate offers readers a rare glimpse into Sigrid Undset's life at her home, Bjerkebaek, now a museum and national landmark in Lillehammer, Norway. Immensely protective of her privacy, Undset filled the timbered house with books and created a writing space where she authored many of her famous works, including Kristin Lavransdatter. There she also raised her three children, tended to her beloved garden, and welcomed close friends and family members during three decades of personal joys, sorrows, and hard work.

Drawing on a wealth of historical documents, Nan Bentzen Skille's lively narrative presents an intimate portrait of Sigrid Undset's intense emotional life and creative endeavors, with Bjerkebaek at the center of it all. Many photographs vividly illustrate the text. For readers who have long admired Undset's literature, Inside the Gate provides new insight into the life and work of the Nobel Prize winner.

About the Author

Nan Bentzen Skille is a Norwegian author who has written extensively about Sigrid Undset. In 1997, she cofounded the Sigrid Undset Society and assisted the Maihaugen Museum with the restoration of Undset's historic home in Lillehammer, Norway.

Tiina Nunnally is the award-winning translator of Sigrid Undset's novels Kristin Lavransdatter, Jenny, and Marta Oulie (Minnesota, 2014). Her many translations from the Scandinavian languages include Vidar Sundstol's Minnesota Trilogy (Minnesota, 2013-15).

Reviews

"A refreshing new look at the personal side of Sigrid Undset."-Bergens Tidende

"Easy to read, richly illustrated, and at the same time written with great professional expertise."-Aftenposten

"A lavish edition in every sense of the word, brimming with materials that have never been seen before."-VG

"One of the joys of Inside the Gate is the many photographs and drawings of Undset, her children, the property at Bjerkebaek, and various memorabilia. The author reconstructs several key events in Undset's life, such as a child's confirmation party, detailing who likely attended, what they ate, and what Undset was writing about at the time."-Scandinavian Hour

Book Information
ISBN 9781517904968
Author Nan Bentzen Skille
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint University of Minnesota Press
Publisher University of Minnesota Press
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 165mm * 38mm