A guide to Iceland's rich literary heritage--from Norse witches to
contemporary crime fiction.
Iceland is an island of multiple identities in constant flux, just like
its unruly, volcanic ground. Shaped as much by storytelling as it is by
tectonic activity, Iceland's literary heritage is one of Europe's
richest--and most ancient.
Iceland: A Literary Guide for Travellers takes the literary-minded
traveler (either in person or in an armchair) on a vivid and
illuminating journey. It follows Iceland's many stories that have been
passed down through the generations: told and retold by sheep farmers,
psalm-writers, travelling reverends, independence fighters, scholars and
hedonists. From the captivating Norse myths, which continue to inspire
contemporary authors such as A.S. Byatt, to gripping Scandinavian crime
fiction and Game of Thrones, via Jules Verne and J.R.R Tolkien, W.H.
Auden and Seamus Heaney, Iceland's influence has spread far beyond its
frozen shores.
Peopled by Norse maidens and witches, elves and outlaws and taking the
reader and traveler from Reykjavik and the Bay of Smokes to the remote
Westfjords and desolate highlands, this is an enthralling portrait of
the Land of Ice and Fire.
