author
Jóhann Sigurjónsson
1880–1919
An Icelandic playwright and poet who wrote in both Icelandic and Danish, he is remembered above all for dramatic works that brought Icelandic subjects to wider European audiences. His best-known play, Fjalla-Eyvindur, helped make his name known far beyond Iceland during his short life.
1 Audiobook
Modern Icelandic Plays Eyvind of the Hills; The Hraun Farm
by Jóhann Sigurjónsson
About the author
Born at Laxamýri in Iceland on June 19, 1880, he later moved to Denmark to study at the Royal Danish Veterinary and Agricultural University. He left those studies to devote himself to literature, writing both poetry and plays in Icelandic and Danish.
His reputation rests especially on his plays, with Fjalla-Eyvindur becoming the work most closely linked to his international fame. Reference sources including Britannica describe that play as the one that created his breakthrough beyond Iceland, while biographical accounts also note other important dramatic works such as Galdra-Loft.
He died in Copenhagen on August 31, 1919, at just 39 years old. Even with such a brief career, he remains an important figure in Icelandic literature for bringing a distinctive Icelandic voice to the stage.