"[A] joyously peculiar book." -- The New York Times
'Bjarnason's intriguing book might be about a cold place, but it's
tailor-made to be read on the beach.' -New Statesman
The untold story of how one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic
has shaped the world for centuries.
The history of Iceland began 1,200 years ago, when a frustrated Viking
captain and his useless navigator ran aground in the middle of the North
Atlantic. Suddenly, the island was no longer just a layover for the
Arctic tern. Instead, it became a nation whose diplomats and musicians,
sailors and soldiers, volcanoes and flowers, quietly altered the globe
forever. How Iceland Changed the World takes readers on a tour of
history, showing them how Iceland played a pivotal role in events as
diverse as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, and the foundation
of Israel. Again and again, one humble nation has found itself at the
frontline of historic events, shaping the world as we know it*, How
Iceland Changed the World* paints a lively picture of just how it all
happened.