author
Jón Sveinsson
Beloved in Iceland as Nonni, he turned memories of a northern childhood into lively adventure stories that reached young readers across Europe. His books blend wonder, travel, and resilience, shaped by an unusual life that stretched far beyond the farm where he was born.
1 Audiobook
Húsabætur á sveitabæjum: Uppdrættir og áætlanir
by Jón Sveinsson
About the author
Born in 1857 near Akureyri, Jón Sveinsson became one of Iceland's best-known children's writers under the name Nonni. He left Iceland as a boy, later joined the Jesuit order, and spent much of his life abroad, experiences that gave his writing both a homesick warmth and a wider world to explore.
He is best remembered for his stories about Nonni and Manni, books inspired by his own childhood and adventures with his brother. Written in a clear, inviting style, they were especially popular in Iceland and parts of Europe, where generations of readers came to know his mix of humor, courage, and affection for Icelandic landscapes.
Sveinsson died in 1944 in Cologne, Germany. His work remains closely tied to his Icelandic roots, and his childhood home in Akureyri is remembered as part of the lasting legacy behind the Nonni stories.