News

Highway 1 revisited

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:02:00 +0000

German author Finn-Ole Heinrich has completed two video works containing scenes from his recent visit to Iceland – including an unexpected ride through the ash cloud of erupting volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

A mouse-click away from the Middle Ages

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 11:10:00 +0000

From the production of parchment to modern interpretations of centuries-old texts, a new website opens a door to the ancient world of Icelandic manuscripts.

Rucksack reads for the curious traveler

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 11:18:00 +0000

As always, summertime marks the arrival of flowering growth, funny looking birds and an abundance of new travel books. Here's a brief look at this season's crop of rucksack reads.

The Ship pronounced crime novel of the year in France

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:01:00 +0000

In its newest issue, the French literary magazine Lire declares Skipið / The Ship by Stefán Máni to be the the best crime novel to appear in France this year.

The Blood Drop awarded to Helgi Ingólfsson

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:56:00 +0000

The historical whodunnit Þegar kóngur kom / When the King Came receives the annual crime-writing prize – and a nomination for the Scandinavian Glass Key award.

A German treasure trove of Icelandic literature

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:25:00 +0000

Since the early 19th century, the Kiel University Library has been collecting books on Iceland.

Literary festival in Romania

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:44:00 +0000

“It was especially touching to meet writers from countries which are genetically related to us through the female line of descent,” says author Þórunn Erlu-Valdimarsdóttir, who recently represented Iceland at the festival "Days and Nights of Literature" in Neptun, Romania.

Útkall to be published in Germany

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:56:00 +0000

A deal was struck last week to publish Útkall – árás á Goðafoss / Rescue – Goðafoss under Attack. "I think that the time is right for Germans to read of what really happened out there," says author Óttar Sveinsson.

Bankster in German

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:47:00 +0000

The German publishing firm Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt (FVA) has bought the translation rights of the novel Bankster by Guðmundur Óskarsson. The German edition is due to appear in the fall of 2011.

A leg up for emerging talent

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 08:48:00 +0000

For the third time, the Icelandic Literature Fund presents its New Voices Grant – intended to encourage literature projects with artistic potential, but little chance of financial success.

On the saga trail

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 09:08:00 +0000

“A great trip in good company,” says Bergur Ebbi Benediktsson of German-Icelandic spoken word collaboration.

Untamed nature

Fri, 28 May 2010 11:43:00 +0000

A new book on the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull is in the pipelines. A collaboration between geologist Ari Trausti Gudmundsson and photographer Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson.

Slam event

Tue, 25 May 2010 13:59:00 +0000

Three young German writers have spent the last few days in Iceland, assiduously studying Iceland's literary heritage. On the Thursday of May 27 the entourage will perform along with young Icelandic poets at Næsti bar.

An unlikely bestseller

Wed, 19 May 2010 16:00:00 +0000

So far, Iceland's bestseller of the year is the report detailing the build-up to the Icelandic bank crash of 2008. Which means that the Icelandic parliament is currently the bestselling publisher of 2010.

A harbinger of spring

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:19:00 +0000

The Reykjavík Arts Festival kicked off earlier this week. The annual event has become a harbinger of spring in Iceland, brimming with concerts and exhibitions.

Art Festival

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:13:00 +0000

N/A

Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir dies at 69

Tue, 11 May 2010 09:27:00 +0000

Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir, author, died in the early hours of May 7.

A bleak moral portrait

Thu, 6 May 2010 10:55:00 +0000

The German-speaking media reacts to Einar Már Gudmundsson's work on Iceland's meltdown.

Friends of literature sign up in Germany and Iceland

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:51:00 +0000

“This interesting project has got off to a good start,” says Ólafur Davíðsson, chair of the board of Friends of "Sagenhaftes Island".

Seven Days' Darkness

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:17:00 +0000

The Spanish Flu looms over the inhabitants of Reykjavík and, in the distance, a menacing plume rises to the sky. A 90 year old work which speaks directly to the present times' preoccupation with swine flu and cataclysmic eruptions.

Slam poetry out of the Icelandic sagas

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:29:00 +0000

Slam – Saga is a literary event in May which will see German and Icelandic poets performing original prose inspired by the Old Norse Sagas.

"I never think, I just write"

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:22:00 +0000

"Iceland is mainly just nature, with a few human beings scattered here and there," says Icelandic writer Jón Kalman Stefánsson in an interview with Sagenhaftes Island, which will appear on the project´s website on Friday.

Future of football

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:15:00 +0000

„Football guides us towards the future“ says Didier Drogba, football player for Chelsea and the Ivory Coast, in the preface of a new book by photographer Páll Stefánsson.

Hugleikur Dagsson's Popular Hits

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:39:00 +0000

“I think the book Should You be Laughing at This? is the only one that's been published in German,” says writer/cartoonist Hugleikur Dagsson. “And it's much funnier in German than in Icelandic.”

Yrsa's fifth crime-novel in German

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:33:00 +0000

German publisher Fischer Verlag has secured the translation rights to Horfðu á mig (Look at Me).

Icelandic poetry in India

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:22:00 +0000

Poems by Gerður Kristný and Sigurður Pálsson translated into Hindi and Bengali

Eggert Pétursson's flower prize

Wed, 7 Apr 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Flora Islandica wins design award as best publication.

Five novels by Steinunn Sigurðardóttir now in paperback in German

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:15:00 +0000

A German translation of Sólskinshestur (Sun Horse) published in paperback.

'Fjöruverðlaun' literary prizes

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Presentation of women's book awards

Sixty Icelandic books for publication in Germany

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:45:00 +0000

and more to come!