The global advance of Icelandic books
Published translations have almost tripled in the last decade with around fifty languages in the running
Supporting advancement abroad
Every week, The Icelandic Literature Center receives copies of Icelandic works of literature in foreign translations, courtesy of the translation grants allocated by the Center. One of the primary functions of the Center is to support publishing and promotion of Icelandic literature abroad.
Fifty translation languages
Icelandic works of literature are travelling further and wider than ever before and the translation languages are now around fifty. There has been a dramatic increase in translations, tripling the amount of translated titles, and Icelandic authors travel all over the world to promote and present their work. Icelandic literature truly is advancing, in every corner of the world.
Recent translations
The photo shows some examples of recently published translations of Icelandic literary works: Ör (Scars) by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, Norwegian translation by Tone Myklebost; Koparakur (Copper Field) by Gyrðir Elíasson, Czech translation by Marta Bartošková; Vetrarhörkur (Winter Frost) by Hildur Knútsdóttir, French translation by Jean-Christophe Salaün; Sölvasaga unglings (The Saga of Sölvi the Youth) by Arnar Már Arngrímsson, Faroese translation by Laurina Niclasen; CoDex 1962 (CoDex 1962) by Sjón, English translation by Victoria Cribb, DNA (DNA) by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Latvian translation by Inga Bērziņa, Minning og saga í ljósi Tyrkjaránsins (The Corsairs' Longest Voyage) by Þorsteinn Helgason, English translation by Anna Yates and Jóna Ann Pétursdóttir, and Hálendið (The Ice Lands) by Steinar Bragi, in Macedonian.
Icelandic authors on the move
Often, the writers will travel abroad to promote the translated editions of their work and The Icelandic Literature Center actively supports this promotional activity. This August Ragnar Jónasson, Auður Ava Ólafsdottir, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sjón attended the Edinborough book fair and in November, Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir, Hildur Knútsdóttir, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Einar Már Guðmundsson and Arnar Már Arngrímsson will attend the Festival Les Boréales í Frakklandi, all with active support from the Center. Other exciting events are coming up in the near future.
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