A History of Icelandic Literature

Daisy Neijmann

• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780803233461
• eBook ISBN: 9780803205437
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

A History of Icelandic Literature provides a complete overview of the literature of Iceland, from the country's settlement in the ninth century until the present day, including chapters on lesser-known areas such as drama, children's literature, women's literature, and North American Icelandic literature. It is the first work to give non-Icelandic readers a wide-ranging introduction to Iceland's literature and each contributor to this volume is a recognized expert in his or her area.

Despite its peripheral geographical position and small population, Iceland produced some of the most remarkable literary treasures of the Middle Ages, particularly sagas and Eddic poetry. These medieval works have inspired poets and writers across the centuries, who in turn have inspired the Icelandic people during the country’s long history of hardships and up to its more affluent present. This volume extends knowledge of Icelandic literature outside the country and encourages its inclusion in comparative studies of literatures across national and linguistic boundaries.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1. The Middle Ages, Vésteinn Ólason and Sverrir Tómasson
• 2. From Reformation to Enlightenment, Margrét Eggertsdóttir
• 3. From Romanticism to Realism, Pórir Óskarsson
• 4. From Realism to Neoromanticism, Guoni Elísson
• 5. Realism and Revolt: Between the World Wars, Jón Yngvi Jóhannsson
• 6. Icelandic Prose Literature, 1940-2000, Ástráour Eysteinsson and Úlfhildur Dagsdóttir
• 7. Icelandic Poetry since 1940, Eysteinn Porvaldsson
• 8. Searching for Herself: Female Experience and Female Tradition in Icelandic Literature, Helga Kress
• 9. Icelandic Theater, Árni Ibsen and Hávar Sigurjónsson
• 10. Icelandic Children’s Literature, 1780-2000, Silja Adalsteinsdóttir
• 11. Icelandic Canadian Literature, Daisy Neijmann
• Bibliography
• The Contributors
• Index