List of the most popular authors from Iceland, listed alphabetically with photos when available. For centuries authors have been among the world's most important people, helping chronicle history and keep us entertained with one of the earliest forms of storytelling. Whether they're known for fiction, non-fiction, poetry or even technical writing, the famous Icelander authors on this list have kept that tradition alive by writing renowned works that have been praised around the world. You can find useful information below about these notable Icelander writers, such as when they were born and where their place of birth was.
Kolbeinn Tumason and Þórarinn loftunga are only the beginning of the authors on this list.
This list answers the questions, "Which famous authors are from Iceland?" and "Who are the best Icelander authors?"
For further information on these historic Icelander authors, click on their names. If you're a bookworm then use this list of celebrated Icelander authors to discover some new books that you will enjoy reading.1
Gunnar Gunnarsson
Frères jurés, The sworn brothersBirthplace: Fljótsdalur
Birthdate: 1889
Nationality: Iceland
Gunnar Gunnarsson (18 May 1889 – 21 November 1975) was an Icelandic author who wrote mainly in... more2
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, My 60 Memorable GamesBirthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Birthdate: 1943-03-09
Nationality: Iceland, United States of America, Germany
Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943 – January 17, 2008) was an American chess grandmaster and... more3
Halldór Laxness
The Fish Can Sing, Independent PeopleBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1902
Nationality: Iceland
Halldór Kiljan Laxness (Icelandic: [ˈhaltour ˈcʰɪljan ˈlaxsnɛs] (listen); born Halldór... more4
Snorri Sturluson
Heimskringla, GylfaginningBirthplace: Europe, Iceland, Northern Europe, Eurasia, Nordic countries
Birthdate: 1179
Nationality: Iceland
Snorri Sturluson (Icelandic: [ˈsnɔrːɪ ˈstʏrtlʏsɔn]; 1179 – 23 September 1241) was an Icelandic... more5
Sjón
The Blue FoxBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1962-08-27
Nationality: Iceland
Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson (born 27 August 1962), known as Sjón ( SYOHN), is an Icelandic... more6
Arnaldur Indriðason
Voices: A Thriller, Jar CityBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1961-01-28
Nationality: Iceland
Arnaldur Indriðason (pronounced [ˈartnaltʏr ˈɪntrɪðasɔn]; born 8 January 1961) is an... more7
Dieter Roth
Poetrie 5 bis 1, Neo Nix und Ned MixBirthplace: Hanover, Germany
Birthdate: 1930-04-21
Nationality: Iceland, Germany
Dieter Roth (April 21, 1930 – June 5, 1998) was a Swiss artist best known for his artist's... more8
Olafur Eliasson (Icelandic: Ólafur Elíasson; born 1967) is a Danish-Icelandic artist known... more9
Einar Már Guðmundsson
Angels of the universeBirthplace: Europe, Iceland, Northern Europe, Nordic countries, Reykjavik
Birthdate: 1954
Nationality: Iceland
Einar Már Guðmundsson (born 18 September 1954 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic author of novels,... more10
Thor Vilhjálmsson
Justice Undone, FljóttBirthplace: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Birthdate: 1925-08-12
Nationality: Iceland
Thor Vilhjálmsson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈtʰouːr ˈvɪlçaulmˌsɔn]; 12 August 1925 – 2 March... more11
Jørgen Jørgensen
The convict kingBirthplace: Denmark, Eurasia, Copenhagen
Birthdate: 1780
Nationality: Iceland, Denmark
Jørgen Jørgensen (name of birth: Jürgensen, and changed to Jorgenson from 1817) (29 March 1780... more
12Gyrðir Elíasson
Gula húsið, Milli trjánnaBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1961-04-04
Nationality: Iceland
Gyrðir Elíasson (born 4 April 1961) is an author and translator in Iceland.... more13
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
Last RitualsBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1963-08-24
Nationality: Iceland
Vilborg Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (born in 1963) is an Icelandic writer of both crime novels and... more- 14
Snorri Hjartarson
Leafs and Stars, Hauströkkrið yfir mérBirthdate: 1906
Nationality: Iceland
Snorri Hjartarson (22 April 1906 – 27 December 1986) was an Icelandic poet, and a winner of... more - 15
Val Bjornson
The history of MinnesotaBirthplace: Minneota, Minnesota
Birthdate: 1906-08-29
Nationality: Iceland, United States of America
Kristjan Valdimar "Val" Bjornson (August 29, 1906 – March 10, 1987) was a Minnesota writer,... more - 16
Ólafur Jóhann Sigurðsson
Að laufferjum og Að brunnumBirthdate: 1918
Nationality: Iceland
Ólafur Jóhann Sigurðsson (26 September 1918 – 30 July 1988) was an Icelandic novelist, short... more - 17
Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson
Walking Into the Night, AbsolutionBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1962-09-26
Nationality: Iceland
Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson (born 26 September 1962), usually known as Olaf Olafsson, is an... more - 18
Guðbergur Bergsson
Hermann og Dídí, Sagan af Ara Fróðasyni og Hugborgu konu hansBirthplace: Europe, Iceland, Grindavík, Northern Europe, Nordic countries
Birthdate: 1932
Nationality: Iceland
Guðbergur Bergsson is an Icelandic writer born in Grindavík on 16 October 1932. He attended... more 19
Jón Kalman Stefánsson
Sumarið bakvið Brekkuna, Ýmislegt um risafurur og tímannBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1963-12-17
Nationality: Iceland
Jón Kalman Stefánsson (born 17 December 1963) is an Icelandic author.... more- 20
Andri Snær Magnason
Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened NationBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1973
Nationality: Iceland
Andri Snær Magnason (born 14 July 1973) is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels, poetry,... more 21
Thorvaldur Gylfason
The Macroeconomics of European Agriculture, Understanding Economic GrowthBirthdate: 1951
Nationality: Iceland
Thorvaldur Gylfason (Icelandic orthography Þorvaldur Gylfason; born 18 July 1951) is an... more- 22
Vigdís Grímsdóttir
Stúlkan í skóginum, Grandavegur 7Birthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1953-08-15
Nationality: Iceland
Vigdís Grímsdóttir (born 15 August 1953) is an Icelandic writer.... more - 23
Bragi Ólafsson
Sendiherrann, The petsBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1962-08-11
Nationality: Iceland
Bragi Ólafsson (born 11 August 1962 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is a musician and a... more 24
Einar Kárason
Heimskra manna rád, OfsiBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1955-11-24
Nationality: Iceland
Einar Kárason (born November 24, 1955 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic writer. He has... more25
Guðmundur Kamban
Hadda Padda, We murderersBirthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
Birthdate: 1888-06-08
Nationality: Iceland
Guðmundur Kamban (8 June 1888 – 5 May 1945) was an Icelandic playwright and novelist. He was... more
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