I'm through the first two books of Sigrid Undset's trilogy. It's set in 14th century Norway, and one of the themes is the integration of Christianity with older pagan traditions.
Sancho's post about "The Children of Ash and Elm" prompted me to post. I recieved that book (and Undset's trilogy) for Christmas, probably because of my Norweigian heritage (my older brother is convinced, as the "eldest son of an eldest son", that the heritage might by Royal). I'll probably read "Ash and Elm" at some point.
So far, "Kristen" is great. Kristen, as the title implies, is a "daddy's girl". And well she might be, because Lavrans Bjorgulfson is one of the best fathers in literature, patient, upright, brave, and noble. She disgraces her father by refusing to marry the man he has picked out for her, and getting pregnant before marrying her lover.
Her husband, Erland Nikulauson, is richer and more highly born than her proposed fiance, but he is also flighty, and runs afoul of the crown. Kristin's former fiance has since married Kristin's younger daughter, and is a great help to Kristin and Erland in their troubles, but I suspect he still loves Kristin and trouble may be brewing. I'll post more when I finish the third book (I'm coming up for air for a few days after the tension of the first two). I almost dread reading on, because the year now is about 1338 or so, and I fear that the Black Death is coming in volume three. "Big Rock Candy Mountain" involved the influenza pandemic of 1919, and now this! Just what I don't need!
Despite my Norweigian heritage and fondness for Kristin, I did not don Viking garb and attack any Capitol Buildings in recent weeks.