The book Bard of Iceland by Dick Ringler about Icelandic national poet Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807-1845) has been released by Icelandic publishing house Mál og menning. It is the most extensive book on an Icelandic poet that has ever been published in a foreign language.
In addition to featuring the life of Hallgrímsson, the book includes Ringler’s translations of his poetry. Ringler is a professor emeritus in English middle-age literature and Nordic studies at the University of Wisconsin.
Hallgrímsson’s youth is covered in the book in the context of the living conditions in Iceland. The poet is then followed to Denmark where he studied, and compared to other poets of his time. The book also includes extensive information on the form of Hallgrímsson’s poetry.
Ringler has written numerous books and essays on Icelandic and English literature and been a popular teacher and lecturer both in his home country and in Iceland.
Bard of Iceland was first released in the US in 2002 but has not been available in Iceland until now.
The book is available on forlagid.is and in bookstores in Iceland. (Email [email protected] if you have any questions).
