Top 10 icelandic books you need to read all about iceland. In one of the bestselling irish memoirs of all time, taylor fondly remembers growing up in a rural irish town. Icelandic books what to read before visiting iceland whats on. The oldest source, islendingabok the book of the icelanders, written about 1, sets the period of settlement at about 870930 ce. Yet another mark of iceland s great literary culture is their catalog of viking sagas.
Dec 08, 2018 in iceland, the most popular christmas gifts arent the latest iproducts or kitchen gadgets. Gunnar karlsson, that countrys premier historian, chronicles the age of the sagas, consulting them to describe an era without a monarch or central authority. If youre visiting iceland there are plenty of great icelandic books to choose from, whether you want to head into battle with the vikings of the sagas, raise sheep with proud farmers, or solve murders on the streets of reykjavik. The eight icelandic books you should read this spring zg.
Recent research revealed that in iceland more books are written, published and sold per person per year than anywhere else on the planet. This book will be the definitive overview of icelandic history for a long time. The book also serves as a fascinating cultural introduction to iceland, as it is set against the backdrop of crucial events in recent icelandic history. It treats both chemical mineralogy, volcanism on iceland with respect to landscape formation and history and to some extent the role of iceland as a hotspot in the formation of the atlantic ocean. Today iceland is a prosperous country with a high standard of living. Use this timeline to learn more about the history of iceland. Among his oeuvre is a book of discount poetry sold in grocery stores, a childrens novel or two, and a nonfiction book on the state of iceland s industry and its future direction. The most classic piece of icelandic literature is the sagas of icelanders, a series of medieval stories that portray icelands viking history. In iceland, there are two main texts in the history of black books. Nov 16, 2011 its lovely to be able to read books in their original language, but one good thing about reading icelandic books in translation is that those available in english and other languages have been translated precisely because they are either classics, very good, very popular, or all of the above.
The history of iceland describes how a small nation situated on a rocky and isolated island struggled for centuries to survive but then rose. Although a large part of this early literature was composed either in iceland or elsewhere in scandinavia by icelanders, the norwegian element in it is considerable and. She conveys her story with a skillful interlacing of history, religion, politics, and culture to paint a vivid picture of the way icelanders live today as members of a wealthy society still very dependent upon naturefrom a reliance on. The icelanders and their big love of books guide to iceland. The eight icelandic books you should read this spring. Giving books as gifts is so common in iceland that a free book catalog is delivered to each home in the autumn in time for the annual christmas book. Iceland s viking heritage and fascinating history iceland was founded during the viking age of exploration and settled by norsemen from scandinavia and celts from the british isles. He also ran for president of iceland in 2016 and came in third. It also treats the longterm history of iceland through the past millions of yaers. On 1 december 1918 iceland, by agreement with denmark, became a separate state under the danish crown with control over the entirety of its own affairs excepting international relations. This book focuses on the period from 1870 to 1940, when iceland grew from a shivering, impoverished colony to a land on the brink of prosperity and independence. The city of reykjavik is becoming a force to be reckoned with, as it is establishing itself. The history of iceland is one of survival and prosperity.
If one needed to go back to refresh ones memory or to go forward and see a specific point treated in more detail, the references simplified the search. The history of iceland university of minnesota press. She conveys her story with a skillful interlacing of history, religion, politics, and culture to paint a vivid picture of the way. Iceland was settled in the late 9th century by mostly norse settlers although modern genetic research suggests that our genetic. In ring of seasons, terry lacyan american who has lived in iceland for twentyfour years brings both the perspective of the outsider and the familiar eye of the longterm resident to this delightful exploration of all facets of iceland, past and present. Iceland history, scandinavian history, books barnes. Almost everything we know about icelands earliest history comes from landnamabok, also known as the book of settlements, composed by ari. The agreement bound both states for twentyfive years. Page 322 iceland experienced 43 years of distress due to cold winters, icefloes, failures of fisheries, shipwrecks, inundations, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, epidemics and contagious diseases among men and animals which often came separately, but often in connection with and as a result of one another. The books about iceland on this list include nonfiction to help you learn more about the culture and history of this isolated north atlantic island.
Dec 26, 2000 in ring of seasons, terry lacyan american who has lived in iceland for twentyfour years brings both the perspective of the outsider and the familiar eye of the longterm resident to this delightful exploration of all facets of iceland, past and present. Oct 03, 2008 recent research revealed that in iceland more books are written, published and sold per person per year than anywhere else on the planet. The collection documents modern iceland with books on nearly every aspect of modern icelandic history from the reformation in 1550 as well as literary works. The book deals with the struggles poor icelandic farmers endured in the early 20th. Yet another mark of icelands great literary culture is their catalog of viking sagas. Killeens wellillustrated book is among the most accessible introductions to irish history. Europe iceland the world factbook central intelligence. Each year, iceland celebrates whats known as jolabokaflo.
History of iceland and some other articles, linked directly or indirectly history of iceland places akureyri go. The best books on the vikings five books expert recommendations. However iceland soon recovered and unemployment fell. The title of this black book of magic means red skin and the text was compiled by the bishop gottskalk niklasson the cruel. My top 5 icelandic novels about iceland in reykjavik. The history of iceland a complete guide extreme iceland. The early history of iceland is chronicled in literary sources, the oldest of which is islendingabok the book of icelanders, written about 1 ad. It records the first people to come to iceland, where they settled, and who their descendants were in meticulous detail. Well, that the history of iceland is rich with legend and lore, ranging from the first settlement that was established here over a thousand years ago by vikings, to the prosperous, liberal and modern scandinavian nation that it is today. These are some of the best books about iceland along with famous icelandic authors. Thanks to a healthy economy and the island s natural resources. On a recent trip there i discovered the average icelander.
Particularly helpful were the authors very frequent references to points made earlier or to be made later in this book. Although many visitors may expect a more remote version of the scandinavian countries, theyll be surprised to find the culture here is totally individual to iceland itself, with little except its first norse settlers linking it to norway, denmark, or. There is no greater illustration of corporate americas moral decay than amazon. According to stories written down some 250 years after the event, the country was discovered and settled by norse people in the viking age. Books set in iceland tale away books for readers who travel. Settled by norsemen from scandinavia and celts from the british isles settled in the 9 th and 10 th centuries, icelandic history has always been shaped by events on the larger politicla stage of the nordic countries. Byock provides a good introduction to the society and politics of iceland in its earliest years, from settlement through the th century. This book focuses on the period from 1870 to 1940, when iceland grew from a. Meet your favorite new holiday tradition embrace iceland s yule book flood this season and give your loved ones books to read on christmas eve.
A study in pre history find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate we use cookies to make interactions with our website easy and meaningful, to better understand the use of our. All about the icelandic flag history and fun facts. Gunnar karlssons narative style hints of icelandic saga and entertains while conveying the facts to the extent known on a broad range of cultural topics. The sagas began as oral stories but they were set to paper in the 0s. Icelandic sorcerers and the books of black magic they coveted.
Jenny davidson, professor of english and comparative literature at columbia university, suggests some of the best books to read if youre selfisolating or in quarantine. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other cou. It has a near universal literacy rate, a tradition of reading that dates back to the th century sagas, and one in ten icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime. If you want a very good understanding of the history of iceland, you will enjoy this book. Times of disease and pestilence have much to tell us about the human condition. They represent less than oneeighth the countrys land area, but their jagged perimeter accounts for more than half of iceland s total coastline. We will be visiting iceland later this year so i wanted to read something about its history. The complete history of reykjavik guide to iceland. This wellwritten general history of the country also comes in a condensed version, called a brief history of iceland. Iceland suffered badly in the world financial crisis that began in 2008 and unemployment rose to over 9%. Iceland has a rich and exciting history, from its start with the vikings up until it gained home rule. The roots of icelandic literature and norwegian literature, which reach back more than 1,000 years, are inextricably intertwined.
Photo books with fresh, vibrant photographs and lively accessible text combine to portray the extraordinary contrasts of icelandic nature. Books on iceland scandinavian history from broughs books. In another of gunnars books, icelands 1100 years 2000, icelandic history is divided into four periods. They are notable for being one of the earliest forms of nonfiction prose. Iceland s history is bound up with its harsh environment, its viking heritage and its language, little changed from its roots in old norse. A comprehensive treatment of the history of iceland in 365 pages. Aug 25, 2015 the monumental history of the kings of norway, and the first vernacular history, the book of icelanders, were written during this period. These iceland books are the best way to prepare for your trip to this beautiful and unusual island. The west fjords are a series of peninsulas in northwestern iceland, shown in this falsecolor satellite image. There is little consensus on how to divide icelandic history. Jan 09, 20 in more recent times, iceland has faced other major challenges, most notably its economic fall in 2008 when a nationwide failure of its financial systems eroded it from its former position as one of the most developed and wealthiest countries in the world. He was the bishop of holar who died in the year 1520. Gunnars own book a brief history of iceland 2010 has 33 chapters with considerable overlap in dates.