Icelandic Literary Prize
2 appearances
-
Edition 12 (2000) Winner
Gyrðir Elíasson
ギュルディール・エリアッソン
Gyrdir Eliasson
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1961-04-04 （Reykjavík）
- Nationality
- Iceland
- Languages
- Icelandic, English
- Residence History
- Reykjavík (birth) → Sauðárkrókur (raised) → Garður (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- author, poet, translator
- Active Years
- 1983-
- Influenced By
- Richard Brautigan
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fjölbrautaskóli Norðurlands vestra | — | — | — | 〜1982 | Iceland |
Fjölbrautaskóli Norðurlands vestra
Period:
〜1982
Year of Graduation:
1982
Country:
Iceland
Graduated from secondary technical/vocational school. Tried various university-level studies before focusing on writing.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Nordic Council Literature Prize | Milli trjánna (Between the Trees) (short story collection) | — | Nordic Council | 受賞 |
| 2000 | Icelandic Literary Prize | The Yellow House | — | Icelandic Literary Prize committee | 受賞 |
| 2000 | Halldór Laxness Prize for Literature | The Yellow House | — | Halldór Laxness Prize committee | 受賞 |
Nordic Council Literature Prize
2011
Work:
Milli trjánna (Between the Trees) (short story collection)
Organization:
Nordic Council
Result:
受賞
Icelandic Literary Prize
2000
Work:
The Yellow House
Organization:
Icelandic Literary Prize committee
Result:
受賞
Halldór Laxness Prize for Literature
2000
Work:
The Yellow House
Organization:
Halldór Laxness Prize committee
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Nordic Council Literature Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 51 (2011) Winner
Works
Major Works
The Wandering Squirrel (Gangandi íkorni)
novelA novel weaving solitude, nature and memory; depicts small-town Nordic landscapes through interior character portrayals.
naturesolitudememory
The Book of Sandá River (Sandárbókin)
novelA story around a river and its people; blends folklore and natural description while delving into personal memory.
naturecommunityfolklore
Stone Tree (Steintré)
2003 short storiesA collection of symbolic and lyrical short stories characterized by a calm yet uncanny narrative voice.
lonelinessnaturesurreal elements
A Few General Remarks on the Cooling of the Sun (Nokkur almenn orð um kulnun sólar)
poetryA poetic collection of meditations on nature and being, notable for metaphorical and restrained expression.
naturetimeexistence
Milli trjánna (Between the Trees)
2010 short story collectionA set of short stories where the ordinary and the uncanny intersect; features delicate observation and quiet unease.
natureabsence and lossmemory
Bibliography
- Svarthvít axlabönd (Black-and-White Suspenders) (1983)
- The Yellow House (2000)
- Stone Tree (2003)
- Milli trjánna (Between the Trees) (2010)
Translations by Author
- Forrest Carter — Icelandic translation of The Education of Little Tree
- Several works by Richard Brautigan — translated into Icelandic
Translations of Works
- Gangandi íkorni — English: The Wandering Squirrel
- Sandárbókin — English: The Book of Sandá River
- Steintré — English: Stone Tree
- Nokkur almenn orð um kulnun sólar — English: A Few General Remarks on the Cooling of the Sun
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- highly personal and introspective stylerestrained, poetic expressioncoexistence of serenity and tension
- Recurring Motifs
- nature (trees, rivers)solitude and memorysmall-town settingsa sense of unease amid quiet
Legacy
Gyrðir Elíasson is an important contemporary Icelandic writer known for his personal and poetic voice across short stories, poetry and translations. His 2011 Nordic Council Literature Prize brought him international attention.
Quotes
-
I consider it the duty of Icelandic writers to give a hand in translations.
Source: Literature.is — "From the Author" (2000) (2000)
Trivia
- Icelandic naming is patronymic; he is often referred to by his given name, Gyrðir.
- Married with three children.
- Highly regarded for both poetry and prose (short stories and novels).