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Halldór Laxness

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Halldór Laxness


Born
in Reykjavík, Iceland
April 23, 1902

Died
February 08, 1998

Genre
Fiction, Poetry, Short Stories

Influences
The Icelandic Sagas, Catholicism, Communism, Taoism


Born Halldór Guðjónsson, he adopted the surname Laxness in honour of Laxnes in Mosfellssveit where he grew up, his family having moved from Reyjavík in 1905. He published his first novel at the age of only 17, the beginning of a long literary career of more than 60 books, including novels, short stories, poetry, and plays. Confirmed a Catholic in 1923, he later moved away from religion and for a long time was sympathetic to Communist politics, which is evident in his novels World Light and Independent People. In 1955 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. ...more

Combine Editions

Average rating: 3.94 · 34,938 ratings · 4,635 reviews · 165 distinct works • Similar authors
Independent People
by
4.11 avg rating — 16,404 ratings — published 1934 — 2 editions
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The Fish Can Sing
by
3.87 avg rating — 3,271 ratings — published 1957 — 20 editions
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Under the Glacier
by
3.54 avg rating — 3,374 ratings — published 1968 — 41 editions
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Iceland's Bell
by
3.90 avg rating — 2,489 ratings — published 1943 — 72 editions
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Salka Valka
by
3.99 avg rating — 2,299 ratings — published 1931 — 5 editions
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The Atom Station
3.52 avg rating — 1,725 ratings — published 1948 — 4 editions
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World Light
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4.13 avg rating — 1,069 ratings — published 1937 — 45 editions
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Paradise Reclaimed
3.74 avg rating — 870 ratings — published 1960 — 43 editions
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Wayward Heroes
by
3.86 avg rating — 384 ratings — published 1952 — 8 editions
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A Parish Chronicle
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3.77 avg rating — 300 ratings — published 1970 — 13 editions
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More books by Halldór Laxness…

Series by Halldór Laxness

Frie mænd Ásta Sóllilja Independent People Úsvit nad slatinami
(4 books)
by
4.11 avg rating — 16,441 ratings

Den lyse mø Eldur í Kaupinhafn
(3 books)
by
3.89 avg rating — 2,527 ratings

World Light Höll sumarlandsins Hús skáldsins Fegurð himinsins Himlens skönhet
(5 books)
by
4.13 avg rating — 1,131 ratings

Þú vínviður hreini Fuglinn í fjörunni
(2 books)
by
4.38 avg rating — 26 ratings

Quotes by Halldór Laxness  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“For man is essentially alone, and one should pity him and love him and grieve with him.”
― Halldór Laxness
900 likes
Like

“Remember, any lie you are told, even deliberately, is often a more significant fact than a truth told in all sincerity.”
― Halldór Laxness, Under the Glacier
tags: fact, fiction, lies, truth
64 likes
Like

“Human beings, in point of fact, are lonely by nature, and one should feel sorry for them and love them and mourn with them. It is certain that people would understand one another better and love one another more if they would admit to one another how lonely they were, how sad they were in their tormented, anxious longings and feeble hopes.”
― Halldór Laxness
tags: loneliness
54 likes
Like

Polls

295344
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669 total votes
More...

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