After watching the enchanting, Oscar-winning NFB short, "The Danish Poet," I absolutely had to pick up this trilogy again, only this time, I am reading Tiina Nunnally's translation. Her treatment of Sigrid Undset is excellent, making Undset's prose more emotionally accessible than the Archer translation. The incredible amount of detail with which Undset writes to describe life in medieval Norway lends a certain realism that is refreshing and engrossing (and I don't usually enjoy historical fiction!). Her lucid prose sets up conflict and human tension quickly, yet gives us tiny glimpses of characterization that build on each other through the entire story. As we read (and as time passes through the 1144 pages), we get to know her characters better and better, like making new friends. Interesting fact to know: Undset won the Nobel Prize in 1928 for this masterpiece. This trilogy is meant to be savored slowly! Best read curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea at hand!