(b.1970) is known for her diverse and impactful contributions to literature. She is the author of more than 30 books and has received numerous prizes and accolades for her work, which has been translated into many languages. She proved herself as one of Iceland‘s most interesting poets with her first book and has since then published several books of poetry, as well as short stories, novels and children‘s books.

Awards for her work include the Icelandic Literature Prize and a nomination for the Nordic Council Literary Prize, the Icelandic Journalist Award, the Icelandic Children‘s Book Award and  The Halldor Laxness Literary Award. Each year, the Icelandic Government awards an individual the Jonas Hallgrimsson Award for their outstanding contribution to the Icelandic language, through writing, research or education. In 2020, Gerdur Kristny received the award. The panel said that: ‘Gerdur’s voice is important in Icelandic society, not only because of the way she expresses it but also because of the many things she has to say.’ She often lends her voice to those that don’t have one, both in her fiction and in her previous work as a journalist and editor.
She was honored with the National Broadcasting Service’s Writer’s Fund award for the year 2023. The fund is an annual recognition granted to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and culture in Iceland. The Norwegian Embassy in Iceland awarded the Gerdur Kristny the esteemed literary prize named after Alfred Anderson-Rysst, in 2024. Gerdur received the award for her diverse and sometimes unexpected connections between Icelanders and Norwegians that she has created through her writings. Among previous winners is the Nobel Prize winner Jon Fosse.

Her poetry have been the basis for both musical and theatre performances and one of her children’s books was made into a stage-play and premiered at Iceland‘s National Theatre to great acclaim.

Gerdur Kristny graduated in French and comparative literature from the University of Iceland in 1992. Her B.A. dissertation was on Baudelaire’s Les fleurs du mal. After a course in media studies at the University of Iceland from 1992-1993 she trained at Danish Radio TV. She was editor of the magazine Mannlíf from 1998-2004. She is now a full time writer.

Gerdur Kristny was invested with the Order of the Falcon at the Bessastadir presidential residence on January 1st, 2022, for her contribution to Icelandic literature.
She lives in Reykjavik but travels regularly around the world to present her work.

“With this book, Gerdur Kristny displays her talents and we get to understand why she is considered one of the most powerful contemporary poet among Icelanders. The poems are convincing and riveting, and they form a very harmonious whole.”
MORGUNBLADID DAILY (on ARCTIC)

“The darling poet of the Icelandic nation… the most popular poet of her generation …”
FRETTABLADID DAILY, APRIL 17TH 2014

“Kristny’s technique embodies a unique and compelling version of what Cixous called écriture feminine. In this case, that means creating a meditative style which shows how violence against women resonates out from a particular situation into a mythic, atavistic presence which is liable to pervade all our experience.”
IAN POPLE, THE MANCHESTER REVIEW (on DRAPA  – REYKJAVIK MURDER MYSTERY)

AWARDS
2024 – The Alfred Anderson-Rysst Literary Prize, for her diverse and sometimes unexpected connections between Icelanders and Norwegians that she has created through her writings
2023 – National Broadcasting Service’s Writer’s Fund Award
2023 – Fjöruverðlaunin – The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize: Urta (Cow Seal)
2022 – The Icelandic Bookseller’s Prize for Best Poetry Book of the Year: Urta (Cow Seal). (3rd place)
2022 – Order of the Falcon, for her contribution to Icelandic literature
2020 – Fjöruverðlaunin – The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize: Iðunn og afi pönk  (Idunn and Grandpa Punk )
2018 – The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize for Best Poetry Book of the Year: Sálumessa (Requiem)
2010 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Blóðhófnir (Blood-Hoof)
2010 – The Icelandic Bookseller’s Award: Blóðhófnir. As the best poetry book of the year
2010 – The West-Nordic Children’s Literature Prize: Garðurinn (The Garden)
2010 – The Guðmundur Böðvarsson Poetry Award
2008 – The Icelandic Bookseller’s Award: Garðurinn. As the best children’s book of the year
2005 – The Icelandic Journalism Award: Myndin af pabba. Saga Thelmu (The Picture of Dad: Thelma’s Story)
2005 – The Icelandic Bookseller’s Award: Myndin af pabba. Saga Thelmu (The Picture of Dad: Thelma’s Story). As the best biography of the year
2004 – The Halldór Laxness Literature Prize: Bátur með segli og allt (A Boat with a Sail and All)
2003 – Bókaverðlaun barnanna (The Children’s Choice Book Prize): Marta Smarta (Smart Marta)
1998 – Third prize in Vikan magazine short story contest
1992 – First prize in a TV culture poetry competition, the National Broadcasting Service
1987 – Third prize in Þjóðviljinn newspaper poetry competition
1986 – First prize in the National Broadcasting Service short story competition

NOMINATIONS

2023 – Maístjarnan Poetry Award: Urta (Cow Seal)
2019 – Maístjarnan Poetry Award: Sálumessa (Requiem)

2018 – Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize: Sálumessa (Requiem)

2012 – The Nordic Council’s Literature Prize: Blóðhófnir (Blood-Hoof)
2011 – Fjöruverðlaunin – The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize: Blóðhófnir (Blood-Hoof)
2007 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Höggstaður (A Weak Spot)