Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir (18 July 1930 – 16 September 2021) was an Icelandic writer, poet and teacher.
Career She published her first book of poetry in 1960 and became one of the few women in Iceland to write modernist poetry. Her third book of poems, Kyndilmessa (1971; Candlemass), has been described as a "breakthrough".Tierney 1999: 679. Innovative features in her works include the use of colloquial language and images of daily life. Like Jón úr Vör she combined lyrical realism with romantic imagery.Bandle 2002: 479.
Vilborg was active in the feminist movement, and her works are concerned with the status of women in society as well as social inequality in general.Neijmann 2007: 485.
She published a number of books for children, including non-fiction works and translations.
Early and personal life Vilborg was born in Vestdalseyri, Seyðisfjörður in the Eastern Region of Iceland.Gerður Kristný. 24 October 2020. "Også de var barn" ["and they too were children"]. Klassekampen Bokmagasinet. P. 7 She studied to become a teacher, and became one in 1955. She taught at elementary school all together for 46 years.
In regard to her political views, media has written that "she converted to communism before she was eighteen and went to Reykjavik to study"; she was also described as a "socialist".
Vilborg was married to Þorgeir Þorgeirson (1933–2003), a writer and filmmaker.
Vilborg died on 16 September 2021 at the National University Hospital of Iceland.
Works Poetry Laufið á trjánum ('foliage on the trees'), Heimskringla 1960 Dvergliljur ('dwarf lilies'), Helgafell 1968 Kyndilmessa (Candlemas), Helgafell 1971 Ljóð (heildarútgáfa) (Poems), Mál og menning 1981 Klukkan í turninum (The Clock in the Tower), Forlagið 1992 Ótta (ljóðaúrval), Valdimar Tómasson 1994 Ljósar hendur (safnrit 3 skálda), Fjölvaútgáfan 1996 Orðin vaxa í kringum mig (1989; Words Grow All Around Me)
Notes
References Bandle, Oskar et al. (2002). The Nordic Languages: an International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages. Walter de Gruyter. Neijmann, Daisy L. (2007). A History of Icelandic Literature. University of Nebraska Press. Tierney, Helen (1999). Women's Studies Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press. Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir Reykjavík City Library
External links Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir Selected works with English translations