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Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice
A new hotspot in the North Atlantic, Iceland is one of the world's most unusual countries. Europe's second largest island, Iceland is its most sparsely populated country. It lies just south of the Arctic Circle but, warned by Gulf Stream waters, has a temperate climate, with verdant valleys, hot springs, and cool glaciers.
Explore one of the most breathtaking islands int he world in Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice. Reykjavik, the island's capital, is a unique cultural hub nestled in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean. With just 130,000 residents, the city is home to the haunting Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church and the distinctive glass-structured Harpa Concert Hall. To the south of the capital, the Reykjanes Peninsula is contoured by volcanoes, mountains, river-ripped valleys, streaming thermal lakes and rivers - including the famous Blue Lagoon - and a jagged and moody coastline.
Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice presents more than 200 outstanding photographs of the island's most evocative and beautiful places, from the spectacular, elemental beauty of the Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, to the hot springs of Hveravellir and the Holuhraun lava field in the central highlands.
Explore one of the most breathtaking islands int he world in Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice. Reykjavik, the island's capital, is a unique cultural hub nestled in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean. With just 130,000 residents, the city is home to the haunting Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church and the distinctive glass-structured Harpa Concert Hall. To the south of the capital, the Reykjanes Peninsula is contoured by volcanoes, mountains, river-ripped valleys, streaming thermal lakes and rivers - including the famous Blue Lagoon - and a jagged and moody coastline.
Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice presents more than 200 outstanding photographs of the island's most evocative and beautiful places, from the spectacular, elemental beauty of the Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, to the hot springs of Hveravellir and the Holuhraun lava field in the central highlands.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2019
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Chris McNab
373 books56 followersDr Chris McNab has written over a hundred books in a career spanning over two decades. He is a historian with a specialisation in military history.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 29, 2020
Don't know how this wasn't already listed on Goodreads, but it's a beautiful book and a nice companion piece to Ireland: The Emerald Isle, which I found together on Barnes & Noble's bargain shelf. There are a few others in the apparent series - Scotland and...okay, I don't remember what else - but the two I*eland books are the ones I bought, because those are the last two countries I've traveled to - although again, I hope not the last two countries I travel to; as I remain guardedly optimistic that someday this too shall pass, planes will once again take to the skies, and "we few, we happy few, we band of survivors" will once more be able to visit the rest of the world in person.
But...Iceland. Really good book; not quite coffee-table size but comparable production values. Still, nothing can do justice to this incredible island itself. My wife enjoyed our trip but doesn't care to ever go again - but I would move there in a heartbeat, (although probably kill myself by the first mid-winter). Also, they make the best candy in the WORLD, little drops of licorice covered in powdered chocolate called (of course) Super Boltar...
...and which are not only insanely good, but are also totally badass because after eating a bag of these bad boys every day for a week, they totally healed a nagging cough and sore throat that I'd had for over a year, and so should absolutely be the next Asgardian superhero:
But...Iceland. Really good book; not quite coffee-table size but comparable production values. Still, nothing can do justice to this incredible island itself. My wife enjoyed our trip but doesn't care to ever go again - but I would move there in a heartbeat, (although probably kill myself by the first mid-winter). Also, they make the best candy in the WORLD, little drops of licorice covered in powdered chocolate called (of course) Super Boltar...
...and which are not only insanely good, but are also totally badass because after eating a bag of these bad boys every day for a week, they totally healed a nagging cough and sore throat that I'd had for over a year, and so should absolutely be the next Asgardian superhero:
February 17, 2025
I really liked the balance of manmade and nature made in this book, it felt very well-rounded. I loved the photos, and again, the small blurbs for each picture are helpful. I don't think it was as great as the Arctic one I read, but it was close and definitely deserves high marks.
December 30, 2024
This is such a splendid little book that gives you a taste of Iceland. As someone who is kind of obsessed with the country and desperately wants to move there one day, this was really fun to go through. It’s worth it to read all the little anecdotes, but this also shouldn’t be rushed. It’s nice and small and getting it just for the photography will give you a hint of the Icelandic wonder.
December 10, 2020
It's a strange thing to say about a book, but...don't read this. Just look at the photos.
Always on the lookout for some nice Iceland books, seeing the photos brought back fond memories of visits there; they're wonderful photos, incredibly well-selected. In fact, though Chris McNab is listed as the author, the real stars here are Terry Forshaw and Justin Willsdon, who are credited as the photo researchers. The book is essentially just a collected of stock photos, but it's an EXCELLENT collection of stock photos, so they deserve some real credit for their selection. McNab's text, on the other hand is pretty weak; it reads like a bunch of things he maybe read on the Internet, lacking any interest or depth, not particularly consistent, and with no feel for the land or people. I strongly suspect he's never been to Iceland, and certainly never spent any significant time there.
So pick this book up! Gaze at it! Let it take you back there, as it did for me. But um...skip the text.
Always on the lookout for some nice Iceland books, seeing the photos brought back fond memories of visits there; they're wonderful photos, incredibly well-selected. In fact, though Chris McNab is listed as the author, the real stars here are Terry Forshaw and Justin Willsdon, who are credited as the photo researchers. The book is essentially just a collected of stock photos, but it's an EXCELLENT collection of stock photos, so they deserve some real credit for their selection. McNab's text, on the other hand is pretty weak; it reads like a bunch of things he maybe read on the Internet, lacking any interest or depth, not particularly consistent, and with no feel for the land or people. I strongly suspect he's never been to Iceland, and certainly never spent any significant time there.
So pick this book up! Gaze at it! Let it take you back there, as it did for me. But um...skip the text.
July 12, 2025
My wife and I just returned from an amazing 10-day visit to Iceland. While we were in Reykjavik, I picked up this beautiful book in a local bookstore. And I read it on the flight home.
Of all the souvenir books I've picked up during our travels, this is one of my favorites (if not THE favorite). It's light on text; however, its gorgeous photos make it such a great read.
Of course, Iceland itself deserves much of the credit. Everyone I know who had ever visited the island nation had absolutely raved about it. And now you can add my wife and I to the list of enthusiastic visitors.
Why? I'll let the jacket description speak for me:
"A new hotspot in the North Atlantic, Iceland is one of the world's most unusual countries. Europe's second largest island, Iceland is its most sparsely populated country. It lies just south of the Arctic Circle but, warned by Gulf Stream waters, has a temperate climate, with verdant valleys, hot springs, and cool glaciers.
Explore one of the most breathtaking islands int he world in 'Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice.' Reykjavik, the island's capital, is a unique cultural hub nestled in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean. With just 130,000 residents, the city is home to the haunting Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church and the distinctive glass-structured Harpa Concert Hall. To the south of the capital, the Reykjanes Peninsula is contoured by volcanoes, mountains, river-ripped valleys, streaming thermal lakes and rivers - including the famous Blue Lagoon - and a jagged and moody coastline.
'Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice' presents more than 200 outstanding photographs of the island's most evocative and beautiful places, from the spectacular, elemental beauty of the Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, to the hot springs of Hveravellir and the Holuhraun lava field in the central highlands."
My first recommendation is to make Iceland a "must-see" destination. But if you never make it there, at least read this book. While nothing can replace seeing the draw-dropping beauty that fills Iceland in person, this book can give you a taste of it.
Of all the souvenir books I've picked up during our travels, this is one of my favorites (if not THE favorite). It's light on text; however, its gorgeous photos make it such a great read.
Of course, Iceland itself deserves much of the credit. Everyone I know who had ever visited the island nation had absolutely raved about it. And now you can add my wife and I to the list of enthusiastic visitors.
Why? I'll let the jacket description speak for me:
"A new hotspot in the North Atlantic, Iceland is one of the world's most unusual countries. Europe's second largest island, Iceland is its most sparsely populated country. It lies just south of the Arctic Circle but, warned by Gulf Stream waters, has a temperate climate, with verdant valleys, hot springs, and cool glaciers.
Explore one of the most breathtaking islands int he world in 'Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice.' Reykjavik, the island's capital, is a unique cultural hub nestled in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean. With just 130,000 residents, the city is home to the haunting Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church and the distinctive glass-structured Harpa Concert Hall. To the south of the capital, the Reykjanes Peninsula is contoured by volcanoes, mountains, river-ripped valleys, streaming thermal lakes and rivers - including the famous Blue Lagoon - and a jagged and moody coastline.
'Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice' presents more than 200 outstanding photographs of the island's most evocative and beautiful places, from the spectacular, elemental beauty of the Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, to the hot springs of Hveravellir and the Holuhraun lava field in the central highlands."
My first recommendation is to make Iceland a "must-see" destination. But if you never make it there, at least read this book. While nothing can replace seeing the draw-dropping beauty that fills Iceland in person, this book can give you a taste of it.
March 24, 2021
Beautiful book, stunning pictures. Glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, northern lights, old churches, green valleys, whales, and the unique, tough Icelanders themselves. The pictures can't help but make me dream a little.
If the point is to make someone want to visit Iceland, this book was well done. I would reread it for the pictures. (5 star requirement.)
I suspect a traveler would want more information on many of these locations.
I appreciated the warnings about which sites were dangerous, and about which Icelandic food is perhaps only (mostly?) appreciated by the Icelanders themselves. I'm not going to be trying skata anytime soon ("the taste of rotting fish plus the intense smell of ammonia.") It looks like there are plenty of other fish available to eat.
If the point is to make someone want to visit Iceland, this book was well done. I would reread it for the pictures. (5 star requirement.)
I suspect a traveler would want more information on many of these locations.
I appreciated the warnings about which sites were dangerous, and about which Icelandic food is perhaps only (mostly?) appreciated by the Icelanders themselves. I'm not going to be trying skata anytime soon ("the taste of rotting fish plus the intense smell of ammonia.") It looks like there are plenty of other fish available to eat.
February 23, 2022
Now we're talking!
Full of stunning evocative photos of all kinds of interesting things, natural or not in Iceland and some facts, this is a secrets of book worth reading. Yes, there is at least one GOT location. But it really reminded me of NZ. It looked like you could almost film LOTR there. Iceland is full of unusual photoshoots - interesting buildings, unusual mountains, glaciars big enough to walk through, black sand beaches. Just a sprinkling of facts which was enough for me. Just what I wanted from this title.
Full of stunning evocative photos of all kinds of interesting things, natural or not in Iceland and some facts, this is a secrets of book worth reading. Yes, there is at least one GOT location. But it really reminded me of NZ. It looked like you could almost film LOTR there. Iceland is full of unusual photoshoots - interesting buildings, unusual mountains, glaciars big enough to walk through, black sand beaches. Just a sprinkling of facts which was enough for me. Just what I wanted from this title.
July 11, 2021
Primarily a book of wonderful photos from all around Iceland. You really can't beat Iceland for picturesque views - mountains, volcanos, fjords, waterfalls. Oddly, there are a large number of pictures of beached old ships. The addition of a map of the island marking where each picture was taken would have been a stellar addition, but it was lacking. Basically a nice way to remember Iceland for anyone who has visited there.
August 29, 2019
I loved this with my whole heart. I will treasure it and look at it often.
I went to Iceland one year ago and this book was filled with such nostalgia, it was like I seeing all the sights with my own eyes all over again. It's indescribable how beautiful it is, and this book covers that well.
I went to Iceland one year ago and this book was filled with such nostalgia, it was like I seeing all the sights with my own eyes all over again. It's indescribable how beautiful it is, and this book covers that well.
March 10, 2025
Interesting photos.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews