Today, April 23, marks 122 years since the birth of Halldor Laxness and today, the Reykjavik Literary Agency (RLA) officially takes over the management of the Nobel laureate’s works internationally, which for nearly half a century was handled by the Danish agency Licht & Licht, later Licht & Burr, in Copenhagen. There is significant interest in Halldór Laxness’s works around the world. RLA’s role will be to ensure this continues and that the poet’s name is promoted abroad.
Halldor Laxness’s Status in World Literature
Halldor’s books have been translated into dozens of languages and published in hundreds of editions worldwide. Two years ago, a new English translation of Salka Valka by Philip Roughton garnered considerable attention. It resonated with contemporary issues, notably the awakening around women’s status and the MeToo movement.
Other new translations of Salka Valka are expected in Italian by Alessandro Storti (Iperborea) and in Danish by Annette Larsen (Gyldendal). It is noteworthy that a new Danish translation of Independent People titled Frie folk was released in early April, translated by Nanna Kalkar. Her experiences and the challenges she faced with the project can be read on Turbine publishing’s website.
In France, Iceland’s Bell will be reissued this year by Flammarion, and Independent People by Fayard. Independent People will also be published in Spain by Trotalibros by the end of the year, followed by a new translation of The Fish Can Sing by Enrique Bernández.
Uniquely Icelandic and Yet International
Critics have placed Halldor Laxness’s works on a pedestal, and Independent People is often listed among the “greatest books of the 20th century.” In 1999, The Guardian mentioned that literary figures automatically include it in such lists, and a critic at the Times Literary Supplement described it as one of the most original and best-written novels of the 20th century. Independent People has also influenced many writers, with American author Jonathan Franzen citing it as an inspiration for his book The Corrections. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former President of Iceland, said of Halldór Laxness, “he has given us a picture of ourselves. No one man has had a greater impact on Icelanders with his novels and writings than Halldór Laxness. His characters are like our friends and neighbors, whom we admire or despise.”
Halldor Laxness’s daughters, Guðný and Sigríður, celebrate this milestone. Valgerður Benediktsdóttir and Stella Soffía Jóhannesdóttir of RLA are excited to take over from Licht & Burr. They consider it a great honor to have the opportunity to promote the name of this extraordinary author across the globe. Interestingly, it’s worth noting that the author’s name is known beyond Earth’s boundaries, as over a decade ago, the International Astronomical Union’s nomenclature committee agreed to name a crater on Mercury after Laxness.
