From Terri Saul: "Halldór Laxness is not underrated. But he is under read. Most people have no idea who he is, even though he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955. I loved both Independent People, and Iceland’s Bell. William T. Vollmann recommends reading World Light. From my interview with Vollmann:
TS – What do you like most about Laxness’ works?
WTV – It’s kind of funny, but at the same time it’s just brutally true, and really, really sad.
TS – This drawing of a hanged person reminds me of Jon Hreggvidsson, in Iceland’s Bell. His life was ruined because he was caught stealing a piece of cord, fishing line. He’s imprisoned over and over again, and never quite escapes.
WTV – Oh, Iceland’s Bell. That’s a cheerful one.
TS – He’s a survivor. He has these songs, the Icelandic Sagas, which soothe him, and help him think about ways to get out of his horrible situations.
WTV – That’s true, Terri.
TS – How about Independent People?
WTV – That’s a wonderful one.
TS – That one’s my favorite.
WTV – Yeah, that’s probably his best. I like World Light a lot, too. That one’s about this guy who is a poet, and he can really appreciate the world and see the beauty incredibly well. But, he’s a terrible poet. So, it just comes out as… nothing. Nothing. He’s got a very sad life."
More about Halldór Laxness
+ Nobel Prize page for Laxness
+ "Coffee with Halldór Laxness"
+ Laxness' wikipedia entry
+ Laxness' Literature Map
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