Halldor Laxness

Halldór Kiljan Laxness was one of Iceland's most influential 20th-century writers. He was born in Reykjavík on 23 April 1902 and spent much of his childhood at Laxnes in the Mosfellsdalur area. Laxness began writing at a young age and published his first novel in 1919. Over the following decades he produced novels, short stories, plays, poetry, essays and autobiographical works, becoming one of the most prolific figures in Icelandic literary history. His best-known works include Salka Valka, Independent People, World Light, Iceland's Bell, The Atom Station and The Happy Warriors. His writing explored Icelandic society, rural life, poverty, religion, politics, individual freedom and the dramatic social changes Iceland experienced during the 20th century. In 1955 Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His books have been translated into numerous languages and established him as one of Iceland's best-known writers internationally. From 1945 he lived with his family at Gljúfrasteinn in Mosfellsdalur, which is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. Halldór Laxness died on 8 February 1998.