Icelandic authors are the guests of honour at a literary fair to take place in Gdansk March 29-31. Icelandic authors Hallgrímur Helgason, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir, Einar Kárason, Elísabet Jökulsdóttir, and Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir are all special guests at the upcoming fair, being held for the second time.
In a press release, the Icelandic Literature Centre welcome the fair as an opportunity to strengthen the ties between Iceland’s and Poland’s literary communities, as well as the countries as a whole. Not only will Icelandic authors be present, but also Icelandic publishers, and translators of Icelandic works into Polish.
Polish nationals are the most numerous group among immigrants to Iceland, numbering around 17,000, roughly 4.8% of the country’s population. Many Icelandic works of literature have been translated into Polish, ranging from the Sagas and the works of Halldór Laxness, to contemporary novels such as those of Hallgrímur Helgason. The Icelandic Literature Centre will also have a kiosk at the fair featuring brand-new Polish translations of Icelandic works, to be released in mid March.
