
The Islander: A Biography of Halldor Laxness (Hardback)
Halldor Gudmundsson (author), Phil Roughton (translator)
£30.00
Hardback
400 Pages /
Published: 07/08/2008
- Temporarily unavailable
Halldor Laxness won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955. During his life, which spanned nearly the entire century, he not only wrote sixty books, but also became an active participant in Europe's idealistic debates and struggles. In the 1930s, Laxness became attracted to Soviet communism. He travelled widely in the Soviet Bloc and, despite witnessing some atrocities, remained a defender of communism until the 1960s. But his political leanings never dominated his work. Laxness continually sought to divulge the world of beauty that lurks beneath the everyday, ensuring his artistry remained a sanctuary of humanism and reflection. In this biography, Gudmundsson has been granted access to unique material by Laxness' family. As a result, the interrelationships between Laxness' personal life, his politics and his career are meticulously examined. What emerges is a grand description of a fascinating personality in which the manifold conflicts of the 20th century are mirrored. 'Laxness is a writer of the first degree, a writer I dreamed of coming close to' - Boris Pasternak, 1960 'When in a bad mood I have picked one of your books.
And there the pure and deep sound has welcomed me, strong and charming from the first page' - Karen Blixen in an open letter to Laxness in 1952
Publisher: Quercus Publishing
ISBN: 9781847242846
Number of pages: 400
Weight: 786 g
Dimensions: 240 x 162 x 43 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
To read him is to discover an extra tastebud. He creates a world that belongs in another dimension, like the landscape of his country - familiar, strange, seen as in a dream. It is an endearing and unforgettable voice, and we must tip our hats to Gudmundsson for setting it in context - Daily Telegraph * Daily Telegraph *
.... The author's life is vividly recounted ... detailed chapters and powerful quotes allow for an honest assessment of the author's career - Sunday Herald. * Sunday Herald *
.... The author's life is vividly recounted ... detailed chapters and powerful quotes allow for an honest assessment of the author's career - Sunday Herald. * Sunday Herald *
You may also be interested in...
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Not registered? CREATE AN ACCOUNTCREATE A plus ACCOUNT
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Reserve online, pay on collection.
Please note that owing to current COVID-19 restrictions, many of our shops are closed. Find out more by clicking here.
Please note that owing to current COVID-19 restrictions, many of our shops are closed. Find out more by clicking here.
Thank you for your reservation
Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at
When will my order be ready to collect?
Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection.
Call us on or send us an email at
Unfortunately there has been a problem with your order
Please try again or alternatively you can contact your chosen shop on or send us an email at