A guide to Iceland's rich literary heritage—from Norse witches to contemporary crime fiction.
Iceland is an island of multiple identities, of constant flux, just like its unruly volcanic ground. As much shaped by storytelling as it is by tectonic activity, Iceland's literary heritage is one of Europe's richest—and most ancient. Its stories 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 traveller 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.
