Gljúfrasteinn

John Duke

Excerpt from Darien’s Iceland diary, July 19, 2006

Gljúfrasteinn is nestled in a large, lovely valley with imposing mountains nearby, across the road from Laxnes horse farm. Laxness's name, a pseudonym he took in 1923, means “of Laxnes.”

First we walk around through the gardens to the back of the house, and have our picnic lunch on a bench in an alcove shaded by small birches and wildflowers. The nearby stream tumbles over smooth boulders and forms myriad small waterfalls.

The house itself is elegantly plain: medium sized, white plaster with lots of windows. It isn’t a showplace; it's a house meant to be lived in. The original furnishings, art, music and books are still in place, so it's very easy to imagine Laxness and his family living here. The audio tour is excellent: it is less obtrusive than a tour guide, and the recording includes the voices of Laxness and his wife. You can stand in his study, see the desk he stood at to write, look out the window at the very view that he saw daily. You can enter his bedroom, and see the art and objects he kept close to him. You can see his Steinway piano—the very same one that Bill Holm has played. When I see the grandfather clock in the hallwa—ticking E-TER-NI-TY---(the one that the clock in The Fish Can Sing was modeled on) my throat closes up and I choke back tears.

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Stephen’s Visit: Paradise Found and Lost Again (2012)

Friday was an absolutely perfect day for a bike ride. Warm in the sun, cool in the shade, very little wind.

I thought I would undertake the 30km trip to Gljúfrasteinn, in Mosfellsdalur, to the preserved home of the Nobel Prize winning writer Halldór Laxness.

The stucco-clad Laxness home is very Scandinavian, modest in its structure, almost to the point of being austere. It is generous in its furnishings, however, filled with books and art. After paying an admission in the garage-turned-visitors center it was a short walk to the elegant front door that welcomes pilgrims.

The outdoor swimming pool, sited next to a very special stone and a beautiful horse statue, is the only luxury on the grounds:



The guide was familiar with the Laxness in Translation Site and we talked a great deal about Laxness and his work. The inside is exactly as it was when Laxness lived there;
I was even given a special glimpse of the kitchen.

I managed to sneak this pic of the master’s study:


HKL's study, Gljúfrasteinn

The trip back held many photogenic vistas:


Near Gljúfrasteinn

I did manage to get hopelessly confused as to which path I should take (I took a different route on my return trip) but was finally straightened out with the help of this Viking compass:


Somewhere near Mosfellbaer

After I finally managed to drag myself back to the apartment, I ate dinner then went
to the pool.

For some reason, the hot tub felt especially good tonight.

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Icelandic authors discuss Icelandic Literature in Gljúfrasteinn:



Víkingur Ólafsson music video shot in Gljúfrasteinn:

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Helena and Vera’s film about a man who visits Gljüfrasteinn to connect with Halldór's spirit…

Snapshots from the Laxness photo albums:


Gljúfrasteinn archives


Gljúfrasteinn archives

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Rúv audio tour of Gljúfrasteinn (in English)…

2020 Gljúfrasteinn annal (Icelandic)…

Extensive photo albums of Laxness and family in Gljúfrasteinn…

Short Icelandic Documentary with scenes of Gljúfrasteinn…

Another look at Gljúfrasteinn with clips of HKL working and hiking with his family…

Bill Holm’s visit to Gljúfrasteinn…

Kurt’s hike to Gljúfrasteinn…

Audrey’s description of her visit to Gljúfrasteinn…

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Gljúfrasteinn museum resources:

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