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World » Europe » Iceland

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Books about Iceland that capture the history and literary culture of this ancient and dramatic island.

"In Iceland—the oldest of all the Scandinavian languages—the connection to the vastness, the landscape and the folklore embedded in it, is very strong." Dorthe Nors discussing Scandinavian literature.

The longtime Iceland resident and nature writer Sarah Thomas recommends reading about Iceland and its people.

Halldor Laxness is the only Icelander to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. His book Independent People has been recommended on Five Books.

    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture, recommended by Rory McTurk

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Culture of the Teutons by Vilhelm Grønbech

    1

    The Culture of the Teutons
    by Vilhelm Grønbech

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Icelandic Culture by Sigurður Nordal

    2

    Icelandic Culture
    by Sigurður Nordal

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Saga and Society by Preben Meulengracht Sørensen

    3

    Saga and Society
    by Preben Meulengracht Sørensen

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia by Terry Gunnell

    4

    The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia
    by Terry Gunnell

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J R R Tolkien

    5

    The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
    by J R R Tolkien

  • The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Culture of the Teutons by Vilhelm Grønbech
  • The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Icelandic Culture by Sigurður Nordal
  • The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Saga and Society by Preben Meulengracht Sørensen
  • The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia by Terry Gunnell
  • The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J R R Tolkien

The best books on Old Icelandic Culture, recommended by Rory McTurk

Rory McTurk, Emeritus Professor of Icelandic Studies at the University of Leeds, introduces us to the landscape of old Icelandic culture, addressing the Icelandic sagas, medieval Nordic history, and links to Anglo-Saxon England.

The best books on Old Icelandic Culture, recommended by Rory McTurk

    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage, Carls bog by Naja Marie Aidt

    1

    Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage, Carls bog
    by Naja Marie Aidt

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Yahya Hassan: Digte by Yahya Hassan

    2

    Yahya Hassan: Digte
    by Yahya Hassan

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Det är natten by Karolina Ramqvist

    3

    Det är natten
    by Karolina Ramqvist

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Wilful Disregard: A Novel About Love by Lena Andersson and Sarah Death (translator)

    4

    Wilful Disregard: A Novel About Love
    by Lena Andersson and Sarah Death (translator)

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón and Victoria Cribb (translator)

    5

    Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was
    by Sjón and Victoria Cribb (translator)

  • Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage, Carls bog by Naja Marie Aidt
  • Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Yahya Hassan: Digte by Yahya Hassan
  • Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Det är natten by Karolina Ramqvist
  • Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Wilful Disregard: A Novel About Love by Lena Andersson and Sarah Death (translator)
  • Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón and Victoria Cribb (translator)

Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature

Minimalism is big with the Danes while Icelanders favour magical realism; the Swedes keep it classical while the Norwegians get emotional. Man Booker International shortlistee Dorthe Nors takes us on a tour of the most exciting voices in contemporary Scandinavian literature.

Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature

    The best books on The Vikings, recommended by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - The Vinland Sagas

    1

    The Vinland Sagas

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - A Description of the Northern Peoples by Olaus Magnus

    2

    A Description of the Northern Peoples
    by Olaus Magnus

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Vikings and Gods in European Art by David Wilson

    3

    Vikings and Gods in European Art
    by David Wilson

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Ivory Vikings by Nancy Brown

    4

    Ivory Vikings
    by Nancy Brown

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Ohthere's Voyages

    5

    Ohthere's Voyages

  • The best books on The Vikings - The Vinland Sagas
  • The best books on The Vikings - A Description of the Northern Peoples by Olaus Magnus
  • The best books on The Vikings - Vikings and Gods in European Art by David Wilson
  • The best books on The Vikings - Ivory Vikings by Nancy Brown
  • The best books on The Vikings - Ohthere's Voyages

The best books on The Vikings, recommended by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough

The Vikings discovered America and traded slaves in Baghdad. They sometimes buried their dead in ships, but probably did not burn them. And they did not wear horned helmets. Historian Eleanor Barraclough separates myth from reality and recommends the best Viking books.

The best books on The Vikings, recommended by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough

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