Description

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A History of Icelandic Literature provides a complete overview of the literature of Iceland, from the country's settlement in the ninth century until the present day, including chapters on lesser-known areas such as drama, children's literature, women's literature, and North American Icelandic literature. It is the first work to give non-Icelandic readers a wide-ranging introduction to Iceland's literature and each contributor to this volume is a recognized expert in his or her area.

Despite its peripheral geographical position and small population, Iceland produced some of the most remarkable literary treasures of the Middle Ages, particularly sagas and Eddic poetry. These medieval works have inspired poets and writers across the centuries, who in turn have inspired the Icelandic people during the country’s long history of hardships and up to its more affluent present. This volume extends knowledge of Icelandic literature outside the country and encourages its inclusion in comparative studies of literatures across national and linguistic boundaries.

About the Author

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Daisy Neijmann is Halldór Laxness Lecturer in Modern Icelandic Language and Literature at University College London. She is the author of Colloquial Icelandic: A Complete Course for Beginners and The Icelandic Voice in Canadian Letters: The Contribution of Icelandic-Canadian Writers to Canadian Literature.

Praise For…

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“This is a collection that every serious Scandophile will want to own.”—Words Without Borders

"Each of the book's four sections is written by a different Icelandic scholar, but all share the same high level of readability thanks to excellent translations. . . . Although obscure, Icelandic literature deserves serious attention; this volume provides an excellent introduction."—CHOICE

"A History of Icelandic Literature is a long-awaited and extensive overview that will, no doubt, be valuable for non-Icelandic students and scholars in the relevant fields for the next few decades."—Sven H. Rossel, Scandinavian-Canadian Studies

"[A History of Icelandic Literature] is the first work to give non-Icelandic readers a wide-ranging introduction to Iceland's literature and each contributor to this volume is a recognized expert in his or her area."—Lorenzo Casany, Aurora Boreal

“The authors are to be praised for embedding their discussions in social and ideological context and also for taking up topics not always found in literary history such as, for example, translations, which are an important part of what people really read, or the contemporary book market with its Christmas-season timing. . . . [A History of Icelandic Literature] is a valuable gift indeed.”—Scandinavian Studies