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Nordicana: 100 Icons of Scandi Culture & Nordic Cool
A celebration of all things Nordicana delivered in a stylish and fun package.
You've watched every Scandi TV series going, you have Nordic light fittings, and you want Birgitte Nyborg as your Prime Minister. Yes it's fair to say there is a general love-in with everything related to the northern countries.
Over the last decade, the Nordic nations have quietly and unassumingly come to hold us in their thrall; but what is it, exactly, that we covet about their culture?
Nordicana celebrates the objects, aesthetics and traditions that have inspired our obsession, with a quick introduction to 100 icons of Scandi style and Nordic cool, accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
Whether it is the inimitable Faroe Isles jumper, made famous by TV detective Sarah Lund; the unusual-tasting delicacy salted liquorice; the ubiquitous Swedish Dala horse; the concept of 'hygge' (a feeling evoked by being in candlelit warmth with friends during winter); Midsomer seasonal celebrations; practical but breathtakingly stylish interiors; or an enduring love of noir literature and dramas, you'll find the key to attaining the Nordic way of life in these pages.
The Nordicana brand celebrates all aspects of Scandinavian and Nordic culture with its magazine and a bi-annual festival in London, established in 2013. An offshoot of Arrow Films, Nordicana showcases the best TV and film dramas coming from those regions, and offers a platform for writers, clothing brands and food companies too.
The festival has proved hugely popular, selling out prior to the events, and attracting some of the biggest stars in Nordic film and TV for exclusive screenings and interviews.
You've watched every Scandi TV series going, you have Nordic light fittings, and you want Birgitte Nyborg as your Prime Minister. Yes it's fair to say there is a general love-in with everything related to the northern countries.
Over the last decade, the Nordic nations have quietly and unassumingly come to hold us in their thrall; but what is it, exactly, that we covet about their culture?
Nordicana celebrates the objects, aesthetics and traditions that have inspired our obsession, with a quick introduction to 100 icons of Scandi style and Nordic cool, accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
Whether it is the inimitable Faroe Isles jumper, made famous by TV detective Sarah Lund; the unusual-tasting delicacy salted liquorice; the ubiquitous Swedish Dala horse; the concept of 'hygge' (a feeling evoked by being in candlelit warmth with friends during winter); Midsomer seasonal celebrations; practical but breathtakingly stylish interiors; or an enduring love of noir literature and dramas, you'll find the key to attaining the Nordic way of life in these pages.
The Nordicana brand celebrates all aspects of Scandinavian and Nordic culture with its magazine and a bi-annual festival in London, established in 2013. An offshoot of Arrow Films, Nordicana showcases the best TV and film dramas coming from those regions, and offers a platform for writers, clothing brands and food companies too.
The festival has proved hugely popular, selling out prior to the events, and attracting some of the biggest stars in Nordic film and TV for exclusive screenings and interviews.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2015
5 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2021
A primer to many things Nordic including myths and traditions, natural elements, design, food, culture, and landmarks. Many familiar icons and some exclusions; I can think of enough material to warrant a second volume. Recommended to those interested in Nordic culture.
October 8, 2019
Czytanie i oglądanie tej pozycji sprawiło mi ogromną przyjemność. Ładna czcionka, urocze ilustracje, interesujące fakty. Czego zatem chcieć więcej?
Kajsa Kinsella stworzyła książkę, po którą chętnie sięgną nie tylko fani Skandynawii, ale także zwyczajne - powiedziałabym nawet - przypadkowe osoby, które z tym rejonem nie mają nic wspólnego. Pierwsi uporządkują swoją wiedzę a drudzy dowiedzą się z niej wielu rzeczy, ponieważ jest to coś na kształt leksykonu poruszającego tematy tradycji, wierzeń, mitów, designu i architektury, jedzenia czy kultury. Tematyka jest naprawdę szeroka, co daje ciekawe spojrzenie na północny region Europy.
To dobry tytuł na przerwę, na takie czytanie z doskoku podczas wykonywania innych prac i obowiązków. Hasła są bowiem krótkie i czytelnie przedstawione, co pozwala na szybkie zapoznanie się z treścią książki.
Zabrakło mi jednak jakiegoś podsumowania, które zamknęłoby całą książkę.
Kajsa Kinsella stworzyła książkę, po którą chętnie sięgną nie tylko fani Skandynawii, ale także zwyczajne - powiedziałabym nawet - przypadkowe osoby, które z tym rejonem nie mają nic wspólnego. Pierwsi uporządkują swoją wiedzę a drudzy dowiedzą się z niej wielu rzeczy, ponieważ jest to coś na kształt leksykonu poruszającego tematy tradycji, wierzeń, mitów, designu i architektury, jedzenia czy kultury. Tematyka jest naprawdę szeroka, co daje ciekawe spojrzenie na północny region Europy.
To dobry tytuł na przerwę, na takie czytanie z doskoku podczas wykonywania innych prac i obowiązków. Hasła są bowiem krótkie i czytelnie przedstawione, co pozwala na szybkie zapoznanie się z treścią książki.
Zabrakło mi jednak jakiegoś podsumowania, które zamknęłoby całą książkę.
July 9, 2017
Cute little book.
June 17, 2017
4.5
Oh, I really enjoyed this book! I was probably expecting a little bit more of it, but it was full of many interesting things about Nordic countries and little tidbits about culture that I didn't squint at it for too long. I believe it is a nice introduction for a total amateur as it covers essentials quite nicely and clearly. And it is a very quick read, so that's another plus.
Oh, I really enjoyed this book! I was probably expecting a little bit more of it, but it was full of many interesting things about Nordic countries and little tidbits about culture that I didn't squint at it for too long. I believe it is a nice introduction for a total amateur as it covers essentials quite nicely and clearly. And it is a very quick read, so that's another plus.
June 22, 2015
Very cute book. Neat tidbits of Scandinavian Lore. Well Written and Reasonably priced.
3.5 / 5.9
3.5 / 5.9
October 20, 2016
A beautiful book to flip through on a wintry, almost Scandinavian, afternoon.
December 1, 2019
Naprawdę przyjemna pozycja, zbiór współcześnie ważnych i rozpoznawalnych rzeczy ze Skandynawii. Cudownie wydana, przeczytana jednym tchem, bardzo odprężająca wiedza o krajach Północnych.
July 1, 2017
This is a glossy, coffee-table kind of book, and thus it’s not very long. I received this as a gift for my 21st birthday and flicked through it coolly, but it deserves a proper review. But it was this book that rekindled my love of everything Nordic, everything Scandinavian. It shows us the beautiful languages of Scandinavia and the Nordics, including some Greenlandic folklore too. A book I’m extremely glad to physically own.
June 1, 2018
It's hard to choose 100 things to feature out of 5 countries, but I think they could have highlighted a few more things from Norway that are well-known. But, this did inform me of other Scandinavian traditions and authors.
March 17, 2025
We are going to Scandinavia in the next few months on vacation, and this is the PERFECT little book to get an idea of the culture. Love the illustrations too. A great resource to make a checklist of things to see/experience while we are there!
May 29, 2018
I never knew so many things from Scandinavia could be so awesome. This is a great book for an overview on how awesome that all things Nordic are. This is highly recommended.
January 19, 2019
Everyone who's interested in Scandi stuff will enjoy this one - simple, interesting and of course pleasant when it comes to the visual side of the book.
August 1, 2025
Surprising depth. Loved this! Heading out next week to the Nordics and this got me quite in the mood!
September 10, 2020
Purchase Nordicana here for just $12!
Lovely book for anyone interested in Nordic culture. With short, funny and easy to read explanations of 100 icons of Scandi style and Nordic cool, Nordicana will help you find the key to attaining the Nordic way of life.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
Lovely book for anyone interested in Nordic culture. With short, funny and easy to read explanations of 100 icons of Scandi style and Nordic cool, Nordicana will help you find the key to attaining the Nordic way of life.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
March 31, 2019
Tomé nota de muchas cosas. Y me sorprendí investigando sobre algunos de los temas tratados en el libro. Es una belleza. Es un hermoso libro ilustrado. No tan grande como un coffee table book, pero igual de bello para despertar la curiosidad y estimular conversaciones sobre los países nórdicos y sus contribuciones a la cultura popular, al diseño, a l gastronomía, el cine, la literatura entre otros temas.
December 14, 2022
Das Buch ist teilweise sehr interessant, am langweiligsten fand ich den Teilbereich über Design. Die Fotos sind nicht schlecht, zeigen aber manchmal nicht die interessantesten Aspekte, die im Text beschrieben sind. Die naiv gezeichneten Bilder finde ich etwas primitiv, z.B. die Felsendomkirche in Helsinki, in der ich schon drin war, hab ich zuerst nicht erkannt. Ich bekam das Buch als Geschenk, gekauft hätte ich es selbst nicht.
September 26, 2017
Reisefieber, Skandisehnsucht, Neugier ... alles wird geweckt, wenn man die vielen Beiträge aus den Bereichen Kultur, Natur, Essen, Medien, Design etc. liest. Ich kann mich kaum entscheiden, wo ich als erstes hinmöchte: Island, Finnland, Norwegen oder Schweden? Und lieber im Winter oder lieber im Sommer? Hach ...
June 5, 2017
Pięknie ilustrowany album z ciekawostkami na temat Skandynawii - znajdziemy tu informacje zarówno o Norwegii czy Szwecji jak i o Danii, Finlandii a nawet Islandii. Można się wiele dowiedzieć o historii, kulturze, życiu.
June 24, 2019
Cute book, but I feel like the author missed an opportunity to highlight some older Scandinavian artists, musicians, and authors by choosing to recognize current actors and actresses. Astrid Lindgren, Carl Larsson, and Jean Sibelius didn’t make the cut.
May 16, 2018
Nordicana is a great Book about The North.
And that is about a lot of subjects.
Great to be seduced to go places
And wonderful to reminisce on places visited and holidays spent.
And that is about a lot of subjects.
Great to be seduced to go places
And wonderful to reminisce on places visited and holidays spent.
June 3, 2018
An interesting overview of Nordic & Scandinavian culture.
August 19, 2019
Definitely learned a lot about Scandinavia in a short amount of time!
January 10, 2022
A cute little coffee table book of the high points of Scandinavia. Read for Nordic Book Club at Augustana College.
August 16, 2023
Random book found on a sale shelf weeks before leaving on a Scandinavian vacation trip. Fun reference.
October 23, 2015
Delightful, nicely laid out, and a great spur to further Scandinavian travels!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews