Short Stories and Poetry

Reykjavík, 1856, Louis Rousseau

Collections:

These anthologies contain three translated short stories by Laxness: Lily (Lilja, 1932), and New Iceland (Nýa Ísland, 1927), translated by Axel Eyberg and John Watkins, and The Defeat of the Italian Air Force in Reykjavík 1933, translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

Icelandic Poems and Stories (includes Lily)

Translations from Modern Icelandic Literature
Edited and introduction by Richard Beck
Various translators
Princeton University Press, 1943
Books For Libraries Press, 1968, 315 pages

This is probably the best starting point for exploring Icelandic short fiction as well as a way of getting a taste of non-medieval Icelandic poetry. The poetry is generally oriented towards nature and it appears to suffer in translation.

The short stories fare better and show the lives of everyday people in 19th and early 20th century Iceland in vivid detail. Death is a common theme, as well as hints of the super-natural. Gestur Pálsson’s Tale of Sigurdur the Fisherman may be the finest of these, whereas Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran’s The Orphan and The Dry Spell comes across as a stilted morality play. Halldór Laxness was a severe critic of Einar in his youth, it is easy to see why, especially when compared to Laxness’ Lily, a poignant sketch of a down-and-outer in early twentieth century Reykjavík. Subtitled The Story of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzarson in Life and Death, it displays all the marks of a mature author, deftly compressing the life of a man on the margins of society into an elegant short story; not a word is wasted.

This is a common book, still stocked in many libraries.

---

Icelandic Short Stories (includes Lilly)

Edited by Evelyn Scherabon Firchow
Introduction by Sigurður Magnússon
Various translators
Twayne Publishers, 1974, 214 pages

If you were to read only one book of 20th century Icelandic short stories, choose this. It has 26 stories by as many different authors, including two by women. Lilly is an alternate spelling of the same Laxness story in Icelandic Poems and Stories; the other stories are unique to this volume. It is common in the used book market.

---

Seven Icelandic Short Stories

Edited by Ásgeir Pétursson and Steingrímur J. Þorsteinsson
Introduction by Steingrímur J. Þorsteinsson
Various translators
Ríkisprentsmiðjan Gutenberg, 1960, 1961, 161 pages

This could be called a “greatest hits” of Icelandic short stories:

The Story of Audunn and the Bear, Anonymous, (c.1220)
A Dry Spell*, Einar H. Kvaran, (1905)
The Old Hay*, Guðmundur Friðjónsson, (1909)
When I was on the Frigate*, Jón Trausti, (1910)
Father and Son, Gunnar Gunnarsson, (1916)
The Fox Skin*, Guðmundur G. Hagalín, (1923)
New Iceland, Halldór Kiljan Laxness, (1927)

The starred titles are duplicated in Icelandic Poems and Stories (see above.) New Iceland is notable in that it was written during Laxness’ stay in Canada, it portrays how being torn from one’s homeland can have an adverse effect upon a man. It was not well-received in Manitoba, but it is an early example of the use of dichotomy in Laxness’ writings.

Note: this book has been scanned by Amazon as a poor quality OCR translation that is almost unreadable. The original is worth seeking out: it is a handsome volume—and often cheaper than the reprint!

---

An Anthology of Scandinavian Literature

Edited by Hallberg Hallmundsson, Collier Books, New York, 1965

This collection has twelve Icelandic stories spanning the Saga age up to the mid-twentieth century. The Defeat of the Italian Air Force in Reykjavík 1933 is Halldór’s only work here, it is a humorous look at the budding fascism of Mussolini’s Italy and the pomp that went with it. The whole book is full of worthy Scandinavian writing, highly recommended and is common, often found in good libraries.

---

Karl’s reading of Seven Icelandic Short Stories…

Bernard’s translation of one of Laxness’ poems…

Eric’s review of Icelandic Short Stories…

Lyrics and translation of Maístjarnan (May Star), poem by HKL…

---

This page created by Stephen…