Karitas Untitled – A Young Woman’s Struggle to Survive
In 20th century Iceland, life could be hard for those whose livelihood depended upon farming or fishing. Steinunn Ólafsdóttir, a widow with three daughters and three sons, was up for the challenge. Realizing that education was key, she risked everything to move her family to the north, to Akureyri, where schools were more accessible. The journey itself was rough, but life barely improved once they reached their destination. Their home was small and the work tough. The children worked long hours, gutting and salting herring in the cold weather. When the day was finished, they often had to bandage their hands to stem the flow of blood.
Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir’s novel is ambitious, covering decades, bringing alive the unforgiving Icelandic terrain as well as its beauty. But the focus is very much on the people, particularly Steinunn’s youngest daughter, Karitas. A talented artist, Karitas is fortunate to attract the attention of a wealthy patron, Madame Eugenia, herself an artist who not only takes time to tutor the young woman, but arranges for her to attend the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.
Karitas’ oldest sister, Halldóra, trains to be a midwife, but dies from an illness, while the other sister, Bjarghildur, marries a wealthy man. The boys all attend school and become professionals. Despite Karitas’ talent, there’s little chance for her to earn a living as an artist, particularly because she’s a woman. When she returns to Iceland, she finds herself back with the herring.
Karitas is thunderstruck when she meets the handsome fisherman, Sigmar Hilmarsson, and before they can marry, she becomes pregnant. They return to his village of Borgarfjörður, where the local women befriend Karitas, helping her with household chores. Karitas, however, remains aloof, angry that she is having a baby. Her pregnancy is horrific, making her deathly ill and causing her to lose weight. Before the baby arrives, Sigmar leaves for a fishing trip and Karitas realizes the burden of taking care of their home and child will leave her little time to draw and paint. When Sigmar returns, however, passion takes over and Karitas becomes pregnant again. This time the pregnancy does not go well, and she sinks into a deep depression.
What saves Karitas, even for short periods of time, is her art. Pictures she sent to her mother for an exhibition are well received, encouraging her to keep going. Each chapter opens with the title of a painting that echoes events in that section. The art is never described: our imagination takes over and we have no doubt that Karitas is indeed talented and, along with her, we mourn the fact that her incredible creativity will never find the outlet she deserves.
Most working women, no matter what they do, can easily identify with Karitas’ situation. Added to her career frustrations, Karitas feels abandoned by Sigmar, even when he professes that his extended time at sea will eventually mean they can have more money and live in a better house. His times at sea grow longer until they are essentially no longer a couple. When he returns, will they manage to rekindle their relationship?
Karitas Untitled is not a novel to rush through, but one to savor. Baldursdóttir’s writing (kudos to the translator Philip Roughton) is beautiful and expressive and we are easily drawn into the lives of these people who are often at the mercy of the land, but have the courage and resolve to survive.
Karitas Untitled
Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir
Translated by Philip Roughton
