Einar Már Guðmundsson
Einar Már Guðmundsson (born September 18, 1954 in Reykjavík ) is an Icelandic writer . His books have been translated into several languages.
Life
Einar Már Guðmundsson grew up in Reykjavík . In 1979 he received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iceland in Comparative Literature and History. He then continued to work at the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Copenhagen . The author now lives in Reykjavík, is married and has five children.
Works
His first book was published in 1980. It was a volume of poetry .
Next he published the novel "The Knights of the Round Staircase" (1982). It is about Jóhann Pétursson. The hero of the story is 10 years old and just about to discover life as such with all its ups and downs. The author tells the story sensitively from the perspective of the child - whose irony, however, sometimes doesn't quite match his age. Jóhann reports amusing and profoundly numerous experiences from his circle of friends in a suburb of Reykjavík. In the end, however, the tragedy breaks into this suburban idyll: One of the boys has a fatal accident. The novel received the 1985 literature prize from Almenna Bókfélagið.
His novel "Angel of the Universe" (1993) was a great international success . This text is about Páll, a mentally ill person and his fate. Einar Már is based on the story of his own brother, whose inner world he convincingly reproduces. In 1995 the Nordic Council awarded the author its renowned literary prize for this work . In 2000 the film was made by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , see: Angels of the Universe .
In 2012 he received the Nordic Prize from the Swedish Academy .
Political commitment
As a result of the financial crisis in 2008 and the impending national bankruptcy of Iceland, the writer attacked the responsible politicians with harshness. In the context of a growing protest of up to 6,000 citizens, which took place in front of parliament on Saturdays, Einar Már compared the situation with that of the GDR before the fall of the wall. The crisis began with the liberalization of the banks, when the politicians "gave the wealth of the people to their friends". The banks have grown uncontrollably, over the head of the country. The writer demanded the resignation of the government, a transitional regime of experts and new elections . The protests led to the resignation of the government in January 2009.
Publications in German translation
- The knights of the round staircase. ( Riddarar hringstigans , 1982) Goldmann btb, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-442-72495-3
- Angel of the universe. ( Englar alheimsins , 1993) Goldmann, Vol. 72514 btb, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-442-72514-3
- Footprints in the sky. ( Fótspor á himnum , 1997) Carl Hanser, Munich / Vienna 2001, ISBN 3-446-20051-7
- How to lead a country into the abyss. The story of Iceland's ruin. ( Hvíta bókin , 2009) Carl Hanser, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-446-23510-6
- Temporary not available. A Lovestory. ( Rimlar hugans , 2007) Carl Hanser, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-446-23059-0
See also
Web links
- Literature by and about Einar Már Guðmundsson in the catalog of the German National Library
- Einar Már Guðmundsson (Icelandic / English)
- On his lyrical work (isl.)
- Biography on the website of Legendary Iceland
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Einar Már Guðmundsson |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Guðmundsson, Einar Már |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Icelandic writer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 18, 1954 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Reykjavík |