With its history of Vikings, myriad tales of folklore, and an environment that speaks through fire and ice, Iceland is a place to get to know before even setting your foot on the ground there. Check out these eight books on Iceland, ranging from murder mysteries to Norse mythology, to today’s culture and society.
8 BOOKS ON ICELAND
Norse Mythology
by Neil Gaiman
Norse mythology consists of a group of myths revolving around the North Germanic people which has influenced the modern Scandinavian and Icelandic folklore. Neil Gaiman, strongly inspired by this Nordic ancient methodology, uses this book to create a fiction and fantastic story paying tribute to the Norse Gods and many other creatures like dwarfs, giants, and deities. His witty and clever form of writing makes this book enjoyable to read while uncovering the fantasy worlds known throughout the Nordic culture.
Journey To the Centre of the Earth
by Jules Verne
In this timeless classic, professor Liedenbrock embarks in an exciting expedition to a volcano in Iceland, which ends up having a secret tunnel that leads to the center of the earth, making it a once in a lifetime adventure. Naturally, the crew encounter many obstacles and threatening situations along the way as well as unique settings and fantastic creatures. Verne published this book back in the nineteenth century, making it a must-read classic. It has been adapted to many films; however, nothing will ever surpass the trill and engagement it offers as a written narrative. A must-read masterpiece if you’re planning on traveling to Iceland.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People
As often happens in media, the people of the Nordics are often painted with certain generalizations like being well educated, having a certain health care system, high tax rates, enjoying respect, and also known to be a bit cold, close-minded or aloof. But as Booth points out, there is much more to Nordic culture and way of living especially between the individual countries that make up the region: Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. Michael Booth uses this book to describe the different cultures, traditions, and ways of living among those to be considered the happiest people in the globe. After adopted Denmark as his home, Booth decides to venture through all five Nordic countries to explore and discover their secrets to success. This book is the perfect gateway to uncover the magical wonders of the Nordic countries while discovering the cultural nuances of Iceland as well as the history that has shaped it.
Independent People
By Halldór Laxness
Sjálfstætt fólk in Icelandic, which translates to “Self- standing folk” is a novel written by the Icelandic Nobel Prize winner Halldór Laxness. The story revolves around the life of Bjartur, an ordinary sheep farmer tired of spending his time serving others, hence looking for independence. Nevertheless, the story unfolds with the irony of Bjartur’s daughter looking to find independence from him. Laxness is able to show the correlation between the battle of power and will, showing it as emotional and tough perception of reality.
Last Rituals
A gripping mystery that starts when the body of a young German student was discovered in a university of Reykjavík. When found, the student’s eyes were mysteriously cut off and strange symbols were carved all over the body. The police arrest who they think is responsible; however, the family of the victim believes they don’t have the correct man under custody. The family ends up hiring Thóra Guðmundsdóttir, a well-known attorney and single mother of two, to investigate and uncover what really happened. It doesn’t take long for her and her associate to discover the obsession the victim had with Iceland's historic torture, execution, and witch hunts. If you are a sucker for mysteries filled with unexpected endings, this is the perfect pick for you.
Burial Rites
by Hannah Kent
Kent was inspired by the true story of Agnes, a young woman convicted for murder in the 19th century in Iceland. After getting charged for the brutal murder of her former master, she is sent to a farm to await execution in complete isolation. The book leaves any audience wondering about how this woman’s hope to thrive to survive when her life depends on the stories coming from others. Hannah Kent is able to build a story with such detail, and it is easy to picture the farm, the changes in the season, and the suffering that Agnes endured.
The Sagas of Icelanders
By Various Writters
The Sagas of Icelanders is ranked as one of the world’s greatest literature treasures, filled with epic situations, as well as tragedy and modern realism. The book consists of ten sagas and seven short stories which shows the journey of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer believed to be the first to European to the New World of North America around 1,000 A.D. This saga is the perfect piece of literature to enjoy and learn about the Icelandic history, as well as the struggles and conflict Iceland has had in the past.
Miss Iceland
By Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
The story of Hekla, an aspiring writer in the 1960s in Iceland, the country with the most writers per capita in the world. Although the environment seems crowded with literature fanatics, her only struggle to pursue her passion is her being a woman. She ventures and packs all her belonging, along with her manuscript, and moves to Reykjavik with her friend Jon – a gay man passionate about performing arts. However, due to the competition in the theater industry, he is only able to work as a fishing trawler to survive. These two friends find themselves living in a very conservative world and feeling completely out of place. Hekla realizes she must run away and find freedom somewhere else after meeting a poet who opens her eyes regarding the reality of her passion.
