Icelandic Literature – Contemporary Studies I

Prerequisite

No prior knowledge of Icelandic is required. This is not a dedicated Icelandic language course, but a study of Icelandic literature in translation. Students will learn various Icelandic phrases, cultural references, and historical attitudes by reading select contemporary Icelandic fiction and poetry.

Course Description

By reading a selection of recently released Icelandic-English texts in translation, participants will gain an understanding of the stylistic range and self-aware perspective to be found in contemporary Icelandic literature. Online class discussions will explore themes of wilderness, mythology, history, national media, and Iceland’s place in the global/economic environment. Supplemented with short in-class materials, the reading list includes: Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, translated by Brian FitzGibbon, Bloodhoof by Gerður Kristný, translated by Rory McTurk, Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón, translated by Victoria Cribb, Stormwarning by Kristín Svava Tómasdóttir, translated by course instructor K.B. Thors, and Öræfi: The Wasteland, by Ófeigur Sigurðsson, translated by Lytton Smith and finalist for the 2019 Best Translated Book Award. Classes will include video conferences with at least one author/translator pair, and very likely more!

Note:  All books available in Kindle editions from Amazon or our affiliate booksellers in the U.S. or Canada, all except “The Blue Blood”—a short online read—available in paperback. An e-mail will be sent that provides links with a special discount.

Cost Per Course

We are not offering this course at this time. 

Schedule

We are temporarily ON HIATUS and will return shortly. If you’d like to be updated, please join our mailing list here.

Location

THIS IS A VIRTUAL CLASS AND TAKES PLACE USING GOOGLE CHAT in Eastern Time (Toronto/NYC). Instructions on how to join will be sent prior to the first class date.

You can join a WAIT LIST if the class is full. Additional classes may be added as they fill up, and we’ll contact you if a space opens up.

Any questions, please contact us at info@nordiclanguagesinitiative.com.

You can also be added to our mailing list here for future promotions, registration dates and more.

Before registering, view our Refund and Cancellation Policy.

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