Sigurd and His Brave Companions: A Tale of Medieval Norway

by Sigrid Undset, Gunvor Bull Teilman (Illustrator)

Inspired by tales of the hero Vilmund Vidutan and his fellow knights, Sigurd Jonsson and his young friends Ivar and Helge set out to reenact these exploits on their medieval Norwegian farm. They carve swords and lances and spend hours making shields. With a little imagination, a pasture becomes a battlefield, an old boar their greatest foe, and they pass many hours jousting and dueling. But when the summer is nearly over, the three boys stumble into real trouble and must prove their courage in an adventure all their own.
Written during Sigrid Undset’s time in New York, Sigurd and His Brave Companions will make medieval Norway come alive for young and old readers alike.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Childrens, Historical Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian novelist whose powerful, psychologically rich works made her one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century. Best known for her medieval sagas Kristin Lavransdatter and The Master of Hestviken, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928 for her vivid portrayals of life in the Middle Ages, written with remarkable historical detail and emotional depth.

Born in Denmark to Norwegian parents, Undset spent most of her life in Norway. After her father's early death, she had to forgo formal education and worked as a secretary while writing in her spare time. Her debut novel Fru Marta Oulie (1907) shocked readers with its opening confession of adultery and established her bold, realist style. In early works like ,i>Jenny (1911), she explored modern women's struggles with love, freedom, and morality, often critiquing romantic idealism and social expectations.

Though she gained recognition for her contemporary novels, Undset felt increasingly drawn to historical fiction. This shift led to her masterwork Kristin Lavransdatter, a trilogy published from 1920 to 1922, which follows the life of a woman in 14th-century Norway as she navigates love, faith, motherhood, and spiritual growth. With its intricate character development and deep moral themes, the trilogy brought her international acclaim and remains a cornerstone of Scandinavian literature.

In 1924, Undset converted to Roman Catholicism, a profound personal decision that shaped her later writing. Her tetralogy,i>The Master of Hestviken (1925–1927) centers on a man burdened by unconfessed guilt, offering a deeply spiritual and psychological portrait of sin and redemption. Her Catholic faith and concern with ethical questions became central to her work and public life.

A vocal critic of both communism and fascism, Undset fled Norway after the Nazi invasion in 1940. Her books were banned by the occupying regime, and she lived in exile in the United States during the war, advocating for Norway and the Allied cause. The loss of her son in the war deeply affected her, and although she returned home after the war, she published little in her final years.

Undset’s legacy rests not only on her historical novels but also on her fearless exploration of conscience, duty, and the human condition. Her characters—especially her women—are fully realized, flawed, and emotionally complex. Her writing combines psychological insight with stylistic clarity and spiritual depth, making her work enduringly relevant and widely read.

Reviews

[Fr. Brandon G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book! I didn’t know it was a children’s book when I started…but it is still totally worth a read no matter your age. And an easy introduction into Norwegian history and Sigrid Undset. Also, it has pictures; not sure why we don’t do more of that.

[Klissia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good work of Nobel prize winner:Sigrid Undset. This time a children story, about Sigurd,Ivar,Helge and their adventurous imagination,with a coming of age tale, about brave knights in Medieval Norway, here in smaller scale than others acclaimed Undset's works that evolves History, oral legends, conversion to Chistianism and the end of the viking age .

Certainly not boring.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed this one. Boys being boys and turning into men. A story of adventure and developing character. Amos enjoyed it. I really enjoy her writing style. It was kindof fun to go back to that world, from Kristen Lavransdatter.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

© 1943. Children's book set in medieval Norway. 3 boys get into trouble and run away from home only to be dragooned into helping a desperate criminal.

[Becket · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it is interesting how the characters act in difficult situations.

[Maurisa Mayerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. I read this to my 10 year old and he loved it.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize before I began this book that it was written for children. That said, I enjoyed it all right for a children's book, though I doubt many adults would enjoy it if they weren't already interested either in Sigrid Undset, Norway, or the Middle Ages. For someone who doesn't know much about any of the latter, it's a good introduction, giving a broad image of the flavor and culture of the place and time. But in that case I'd recommend, instead, her masterpiece Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. For children, though, this should be an excellent read.

[Cat Sprynczynatyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoroughly enjoyable book! I can't wait to read it to Sigurdor when he's old enough. Sigrid Undset has become one of my favorite authors, and her children's fiction is just as enjoyable as her Nobel Prize winning fiction.