Sigrid Undset is a Nobel Prize winner known for her historical novels. Many readers discovered her through *Kristin Lavransdatter*, a long story set in Norway centuries ago. Her books often look at faith, at families, and at women’s lives in the past.
If you like novels with a depth and a historical feel similar to hers, you might want to find other writers. There are authors who also take you to different times and places and show you people dealing with big questions about life and right and wrong.
For readers who enjoy Undset, here are some authors who offer a similar kind of reading experience.
Kristin Lavransdatter is the central character in Sigrid Undset’s remarkable historical trilogy “Kristin Lavransdatter.” Set in Norway in the 14th century, this immersive series traces Kristin’s life from girlhood into adulthood.
In the first book, “The Wreath,” Kristin grows up in a medieval society bound by strict traditions and religious beliefs. Her father arranges a suitable marriage, but Kristin’s passionate heart leads her toward the daring Erlend, a fearless knight with a complicated past.
As their forbidden romance unfolds, Kristin must navigate the challenges of honor, family expectations, faith, and the powerful choices that will shape her entire life.
Readers who enjoy Sigrid Undset’s nuanced portrayal of historical settings and vibrant characters might also appreciate authors such as Selma Lagerlöf or Willa Cather, who similarly explore profound human emotions embedded deeply in specific historical moments.
María Dueñas is a Spanish author known for historical novels with vivid settings, strong plotlines, and rich character portrayals. Her book “The Time in Between” (“El tiempo entre costuras”) introduces readers to Sira Quiroga, a talented seamstress in 1930s Spain.
After unforeseen circumstances drive her to Morocco, she opens a high-end dressmaking shop frequented by affluent clients and spies alike.
Dueñas weaves history, espionage, romance and adventure into a tightly crafted story set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and Europe’s turbulent upheavals.
Like Sigrid Undset, Dueñas relies on detailed historical backgrounds and multi-dimensional characters to draw readers into compelling personal journeys.
Geraldine Brooks is a thoughtful storyteller who brings history vividly to life through richly developed characters and authentic settings. Readers of Sigrid Undset who enjoy historical narratives shaped by complex moral choices will feel comfortable in Brooks’ novels.
In “Year of Wonders,” Brooks tells the powerful story of a small English village during the plague of 1666. As disease spreads fear and suspicion among villagers, an ordinary housemaid named Anna Frith finds courage she never knew she had.
Faced with loss, despair, and societal breakdown, Anna navigates through tragedy toward renewal, compassion, and profound bravery.
Brooks paints the resilience of people’s spirits beautifully against the backdrop of historical events, offering readers a moving portrayal of ordinary heroism during extraordinary hardship.
Books by Pär Lagerkvist offer readers powerful explorations of moral questions through vivid storytelling. If you enjoy the historical depth and moral reflection found in Sigrid Undset’s novels, Lagerkvist might be a rewarding choice.
His novel “Barabbas” tells the story of the man who was freed instead of Jesus. After witnessing the crucifixion, Barabbas struggles with issues of faith, doubt, and what it all means for him personally.
Lagerkvist’s simple yet profound storytelling captures the emotional and philosophical weight behind these struggles. If Undset’s insights into belief and conscience resonate with you, “Barabbas” could provide another thoughtful journey.
Readers who appreciate Sigrid Undset’s deep exploration of human struggles and self-discovery might find Hermann Hesse appealing. Hesse’s novels often center around personal growth, spirituality, and internal conflict. His book “Demian” follows the story of young Emil Sinclair.
He is torn between the safe, moral world of his home and the darker, ambiguous world introduced by his friend Max Demian. Sinclair gradually confronts deeper truths about himself and life, guided by Demian’s mysterious influence.
The narrative examines questions about good and evil, individuality, and finding one’s true self, themes familiar to readers of Undset.
Per Petterson is a Norwegian author known for his thoughtful characters and deep connection to the Norwegian landscape, similar to the qualities readers often appreciate in Sigrid Undset.
In his novel “Out Stealing Horses,” Petterson tells the story of Trond, a retired man who seeks tranquillity and solitude in the rural countryside of Norway.
As Trond reflects on the pivotal summer he spent with his father in his youth, unresolved mysteries of his family’s past resurface.
The story moves fluidly between Trond’s childhood and his adult life, portraying loss, friendship, and family secrets set against a beautifully described natural backdrop.
The novel captures emotion in a quiet yet profound way, making readers feel intimately connected to the characters and their surroundings.
Readers who enjoy the historical depth and rich character portrayal of Sigrid Undset may appreciate the work of Marguerite Yourcenar. Yourcenar, a French author known for her thoughtful exploration of history and human nature, wrote the memorable novel “Memoirs of Hadrian.”
It’s presented as the fictional autobiography of Roman Emperor Hadrian, narrated through letters to his successor, Marcus Aurelius.
The story offers an intimate look at Hadrian’s reflections on power, love, beauty, and mortality, focusing on the dedicated yet complicated life of a leader who shaped an empire.
Yourcenar portrays Hadrian not as a distant historical figure but as a relatable human being who struggles with profound personal and philosophical concerns.
The thoughtful and beautifully written narrative allows readers a deep connection with a past world, woven together by powerful emotional insights.
Ken Follett is a British author known for historical novels that vividly recreate various periods of European history.
His storytelling often focuses on detailed characters, strong female leads, and settings steeped in careful historical research, qualities readers who appreciate Sigrid Undset might enjoy.
Follett’s novel “The Pillars of the Earth” transports readers to medieval England and follows the dramatic events surrounding the building of a vast cathedral.
Characters from lords to peasants are depicted with clear psychological depth, and their intersecting lives include politics, romance, intrigue, and ambition.
The intricate depiction of everyday life in a medieval society makes this novel especially appealing to those who enjoyed the rich historical detail and complex characters found in Undset’s works.
Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) was a Danish author known for her beautifully atmospheric storytelling and poetic narration. If you enjoyed the historical depth and strong characters in Sigrid Undset’s novels, you may appreciate Dinesen’s classic “Out of Africa.”
This memoir describes her years running a coffee plantation in Kenya, surrounded by fascinating landscapes and cultures. Dinesen writes vividly about her connection to the land, the friendships she formed and the challenges she faced.
Many personal essays within the memoir highlight the complexity of her life in Africa and offer thoughtful reflections on love, loss and belonging. Her tranquil yet evocative style draws readers close to a world that no longer exists, capturing an era with elegance and grace.
A. S. Byatt is a British novelist known for stories that explore history, relationships, and the vivid inner lives of women, themes readers of Sigrid Undset will find familiar.
One of her widely read novels is “Possession,” a literary mystery about two modern scholars who uncover hidden connections between a pair of Victorian poets. The story alternates between past and present, weaving romance, poetry, and detective elements into the narrative.
Byatt offers beautiful writing and deep, relatable characters that draw readers into both timelines. For fans of Undset’s detailed personal portraits and historical depth, “Possession” provides an absorbing and layered reading experience.
Readers who appreciate Sigrid Undset’s thoughtful exploration of complex characters and historical settings may find Daphne du Maurier equally intriguing.
Du Maurier, a British author famous for her atmospheric and suspenseful novels, brings rich psychological depth and vivid settings to her stories.
Her celebrated novel “Rebecca” follows an unnamed young bride who moves into the grand isolated mansion of Manderley, home of the late and mysterious Rebecca.
In this eerie new setting, the protagonist struggles against the oppressive memory of her husband’s first wife, unraveling secrets and troubling truths hidden beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect life.
“Rebecca” masterfully blends suspense, romance, and intricate character study set against the backdrop of a haunting English estate.
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian writer known for exploring deep human emotions and moral struggles, qualities that readers of Sigrid Undset might appreciate. His novella “Letter from an Unknown Woman” offers a moving exploration of love and longing.
The story begins when a famous novelist receives an anonymous letter from a woman who has loved him secretly and completely, without him ever knowing.
Through the letter, the narrator reveals the quiet tragedy of her life and how the author unknowingly influenced every decision she made. Zweig carefully portrays human vulnerability and unfulfilled desire, which creates intense emotion in his narrative.
Fans of Sigrid Undset’s nuanced character depictions and her ability to capture human depth might find Zweig’s work rewarding.
Readers who appreciate Sigrid Undset’s immersive historical worlds may find interest in J.R.R. Tolkien, an author celebrated for his detailed fictional universes filled with rich cultural backgrounds and complex characters.
Tolkien, a skilled linguist and storyteller, is well-known for creating convincing mythologies that feel authentic and lived-in.
In his classic, “The Hobbit,” readers meet Bilbo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit who sets out from his comfortable home into unknown lands in company with a group of dwarves, guided by the wizard Gandalf.
Along their journey, they encounter trolls, elves, a fearsome dragon, and a mysterious ring that would later hold great significance.
Tolkien crafts a story filled with adventure, friendship, courage, and personal growth, effortlessly drawing readers into an imaginative yet deeply human tale.
If you enjoy Sigrid Undset’s portrayals of complex characters caught between tradition, ambition, and personal struggle, Willa Cather might resonate with you as well. Cather’s novel “My Ántonia” takes readers into the Nebraska prairies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is narrated by Jim Burden, who reflects upon his childhood bond with Ántonia Shimerda, an immigrant girl from Bohemia. Through Jim’s memories, we experience the hardships and hopes faced by settlers as they build lives in a challenging, new land.
With its vivid characters, heartfelt stories, and a strong sense of place, Cather’s writing deeply explores themes of immigrant life, the persistence of memory, and the emotional power of home.
Readers who enjoy Sigrid Undset’s thoughtful exploration of human relationships and societal constraints might find Edith Wharton similarly appealing. Wharton’s novel “The Age of Innocence” vividly captures the spirit of 1870s New York high society.
At the center of the story is Newland Archer, a respectable young lawyer engaged to a proper young woman named May Welland. Newland’s predictable life is disrupted when Countess Ellen Olenska, May’s unconventional cousin, returns to New York.
Ellen’s refusal to conform draws Newland in, forcing him to confront the rigid expectations of his own social circle. The tension between duty and desire runs deep throughout this beautifully written book.
Wharton masterfully portrays love, integrity, and compromise through subtle yet powerful storytelling.