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.

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.

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.

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

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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

"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.

„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.

“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.”

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

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

Flora Islandica wins design award as best publication.

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

Presentation of women's book awards

and more to come!

Katrín Árnadóttir in Berlin on the success of the Culture Lounge at the ITB.

Kristín Steinsdóttir and Andri Snær Magnason promoted their books.

Sagenhaftes Island will be present at one of the largest travel trade shows in the world 10-14 of March.

Print run for Himnaríki og helvíti (Heaven and Hell) doubled only ten days after first issue.

Aufbau publishing house in Germany acquires German rights to Rúnagaldur/The Rune Cabal.

Sagenhaftes Island interviewed the author on the occation of the ceremony in Hamburg 28 February.

Guðmundur Óskarsson and Helgi Björnsson awarded the Icelandic Literary Prize 2009.

We are proud that Iceland is Guest of Honour in Frankfurt 2011.

The aim is to bring Icelandic culture to Germany 2011.

Three novels by Hallgrímur Helgason coming out in paperback in Germany.

Superb reviews, prizes and impressive coverage. Three Icelandic writers achieve success in Scandinavia

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Two new books by Gyrðir Elíasson were published this autumn, a short-story collection and a book of poetry. Critical consensus is that Elíasson is at his best this year.

A new photography book, Last Days of the Arctic, is expected in 2010.

The cookbook Maturinn hennar Nönnu (Nanna's Food) has been nominated for one of the world's most highly regarded prizes in Wine and Cookery writing.

This book selected as one of the three Books of the Week

Nominations for the Icelandic Literary Prize and The Nordic Council Literary Prize announced last week

Jón Leifs is one of Iceland's most important artists of the 20^th century. His story is that of a man who was to some extent too big for the Iceland of that time.

The newest issue of the Austrian literature magazine Lichtungen is dedicated to Icelandic literature

The KAIROS prize is awarded for work which connects art and society

The Jónas Hallgrímsson Prize was awarded on Icelandic Language Day 2009

Publication rights to Himnaríki og helvíti /Heaven and Hell sold to Italy, Spain and the Netherlands

Óttar M. Norðfjörð's books Hnífur Abrahams/Abraham's Knife and Sólkross/Sun Cross to be distributed in about 20 countries

One of Gunnar's best-known novels  translated by Karl Ludwig Wetzig

- excellent response to Frankfurt 2011

Contract of partnership signed 28 september.

The largest publishing house in Russia (AST) has purchased the rights to Yrsa Sigurðardóttir‘s first two novels.

The ninth Reykjavík International Literary Festival ended with a publishers' symposium and poetry.

A poetry collection dedicated to the five foremost modernist poets of Iceland will be published in the summer of 2011 in Germany.

held for the ninth time in Reykjavik 6-12 September 2009

...has been added to UNESCO‘s Memory of the World Register, thus becoming the first Icelandic relic to be submitted to the archives.

...rubs shoulders in Norway with literary giants.

Politiken and Jyllands Posten praise the book Skipið/The Ship.

An Icelandic cannibal wreaks havoc in Denmark...

Lebanese publisher Arab Scientific has bought the publishing rights to Brekkukotsannáll /The Fish Can Sing in arabic.

by Bragi Ólafsson published in German by S. Fischer Verlag.

Over thirthy translators into twelve different languages.

Translators of Icelandic literature gather in Reykjavík and at Hali.

Halldór Laxness, Egill Skallagrímsson, Grim and the Miðgarðsormur Serpent in Leipzig

The new Website is now open
The Project Fabulous Iceland has now opened it’s new website.

of Sagas of Icelanders in German for publication in 2011 Published and promoted by one of Germany’s leading publishing houses

Agreement signed by Iceland’s Minister of Education, Science and Culture and Book Fair managing director