Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Axe | 1925 | Sigrid Undset | Buy |
| 2 | Olav Audunssøn: II. Providence | 1925 | Sigrid Undset | N/A |
| 3 | The Snake Pit | 1925 | Sigrid Undset | Buy |
| 4 | In the Wilderness | 1927 | Sigrid Undset | Buy |
| 5 | The Son Avenger | 1929 | Sigrid Undset | Buy |
Written immediately after Kristin Lavransdatter, the Master of Hestviken tetralogy is Undset’s other major medieval work. Set in 13th- and 14th-century Norway, it follows Olav Audunsson, a young man bound by a childhood betrothal who commits a secret killing that haunts the rest of his life. As Olav inherits the estate of Hestviken and tries to build a respectable life, his unconfessed crime and religious guilt drag him toward isolation.
The four volumes were published in Norwegian between 1925 and 1927, with English translations following shortly after. Like Kristin Lavransdatter, the series reflects Undset’s Catholic faith and her fascination with how medieval people understood sin, honor, and redemption. The books are slower-paced than the Kristin trilogy but often praised for their psychological depth.