Iceland has a rich literary history, which has carried on into the modern period.

Some of the best known examples of Icelandic literature are the Sagas of Icelanders. These are prose narratives based on historical events that took place in Iceland and the surrounding areas during the Saga Age. Most of these sagas were recorded during the 13th and 14th centuries, but the original authors and subsequent recorders of the works are unknown and thus not listed here. Although it has been suggested that Snorri Sturluson is the author of Egil's Saga. The Saga tradition is not limited only to Iceland, and is an integral part of Norse mythology throughout the Nordics.

Another dominant form of Icelandic literature is poetry. Iceland has a rich history of poets, with many poets listed here. The early poetry of Iceland is Old Norse poetry, which is divided into the anonymous Eddic poetry, and the Skaldic poetry attributed to a series of skalds, who were court poets who lived in the Viking Age and Middle Ages. The modern Icelandic language is sufficiently similar to the Old Norse language for speakers of modern Icelandic to be able to understand Old Norse texts. Later Icelandic poetry includes the Passion Hymns by Hallgrímur Pétursson, a collection of Christian religious poetry published in 1666. Modern poets include Einar Benediktsson, a neo-Romantic poet who was an important figure in Iceland's nationalistic literary revival during the 19th century, and 20th-century poets such as Tómas Guðmundsson and Davíð Stefánsson.

Halldór Laxness is the only Icelander to have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955, he is recognized as one of Iceland's greatest literary figures. He wrote poetry, newspaper articles, plays, travelogues, short stories, and novels. Icelandic authors have won the Nordic Council's Literature Prize nine times.

In the modern period many Icelandic authors have been successful writing in languages other than Icelandic. Others have their work translated into other languages and are known internationally. The Detective Erlendur series by crime fiction author Arnaldur Indriðason is translated into at least 24 languages, including English.

Following is a list of notable Icelandic writers. This list includes authors of Icelandic literature, as well as writers in other literary disciplines; such as authors of fiction and non-fiction works, poets and skalds, playwrights, screenwriters, songwriters and composers, scholars, scribes, journalists, translators, and editors of newspapers and magazines. All the people listed here are or were Icelandic citizens, or writers with a strong connection to Iceland, for example by writing in the Icelandic language. People listed are from a wide range of time periods, ranging from the early Viking-age chroniclers, to modern day novelists. To help sort the writers by period, they are sorted according to the time period they lived. Although many more precise periods can be used, this list uses Contemporary for living writers, Modern for writers since the 16th century, and Medieval for the period from the 5th to the 15th century. In keeping with Icelandic naming conventions, the list is alphabetical by given name, as that is how Icelandic names are sorted.

A

+ Given names beginning with "A" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Andri Snær Magnason Contemporary 1973 Living Children's book author The Story of the Blue Planet Anna Mjöll Ólafsdóttir Contemporary 1970 Living Jazz songwriter Sjúbídú Anna Svanhildur Björnsdóttir Contemporary 1948 Living Poet Örugglega ég Ari Jósefsson Modern 1939 1964 Poet Nei Ari Trausti Guðmundsson Contemporary 1948 Living Non-fiction author Vegalínur Ari Þorgilsson Medieval 1067 1148 Medieval chronicler Íslendingabók Arnaldur Indriðason Contemporary 1961 Living Crime fiction author Detective Erlendur series Arndís Þórarinsdóttir Contemporary 1982 Living Children's books author Arngrímr Brandsson Medieval 1325 1361 14th century author Guðmundar saga D Arngrímur Jónsson Medieval 1568 1648 16th century scholar Brevis commentarius de Islandia Arnórr Jarlaskáld Medieval 1012 1070 Skald Arnthor Birgisson Contemporary 1976 Living Dance music songwriter Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir Contemporary 1958 Living Novelist Butterflies in November Auður Jónsdóttir Contemporary 1973 Living Novelist Secretaries to the Spirits Auður Laxness Modern 1918 2012 Author Melkorka

Á

+ Given names beginning with "Á" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Álfrún Gunnlaugsdóttir Contemporary 1938 2021 Novelist Þel Ágústína Jónsdóttir Contemporary 1949 Living Poet Að baki mánans Árni Bergmann Contemporary 1935 Living Novelist Thorvald the Widely-Travelled Árni Böðvarsson Modern 1924 1992 Dictionary editor Árni Lárentíusson Medieval 1304 1337 Medieval prose writer Dunstanus saga Árni Þórarinsson Contemporary 1950 Living Crime writer and journalist Áslaug Jónsdóttir Contemporary 1963 Living Children's book author Skrímsli í vanda

B

+ Given names beginning with "B" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Baldur Ragnarsson Contemporary 1930 2018 Poet Barði Jóhannsson Contemporary 1975 Living Music writer Bergljót Arnalds Contemporary 1968 Living Children's book author Bergr Sokkason Medieval 1316 1350 14th century scholar Micheals Saga Bergþóra Árnadóttir Modern 1948 2007 Folk songwriter Bersi Skáldtorfuson Medieval 980 1030 11th century skald Birgir Sigurðsson Contemporary 1937 2019 Drama writer Birgitta Jónsdóttir Contemporary 1967 Living Poet Birgitta Sif Contemporary 1981 Living Children's book author Bjarki Karlsson Contemporary 1965 Living Poet Árleysi alda Bjarni Bjarnason Contemporary 1965 Living Novelist Endurkoma Maríu Bjarni Harðarson Contemporary 1961 Living Novelist Bjarni Thorarensen Modern 1786 1841 Poet Beck, Richard. "BJARNI THORARENSEN—ICELAND'S PIONEER ROMANTICIST." Scandinavian Studies and Notes, vol. 15, no. 3, 1938, pp. 71–80. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40915447. Björgvin Franz Gíslason Contemporary 1977 Living Children's book author Björk Guðmundsdóttir Contemporary 1965 Living Songwriter Debut, Post, "Homogenic", Vulnicura, Fossora Björn Th. Björnsson Modern 1922 2007 Novelist Böðvar Guðmundsson Contemporary 1939 Living Novelist Bogi Ágústsson Contemporary 1952 Living Journalist Bragi Boddason Medieval 800 850 9th century poet Ragnarsdrápa Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir Contemporary 1982 Living Children's book author Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir Contemporary 1970 Living Children's book author Brynjar Leifsson Contemporary 1990 Living Songwriter Brynjólfur Pétursson Modern 1810 1851 Magazine editor Fjölnismenn

D

+ Given names beginning with "D" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Davíð Oddsson Contemporary 1948 2026 Newspaper editor Editor of Morgunblaðið Davíð Stefánsson Modern 1895 1964 Poet Drífa Viðar Modern 1920 1971 Novelist Fjalldalslilja

E

+ Given names beginning with "E" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Eggert Ólafsson Modern 1726 1768 Poet Reise igiennem Island Egill Helgason Contemporary 1959 Living Journalist Egill Skallagrímsson Medieval 904 995 Viking-Age poet Höfuðlausn Eilífr Goðrúnarson Medieval Unknown 10th-century skald Þórsdrápa Eilífr kúlnasveinn Medieval Unknown 12th or 13th century skald Einar Benediktsson Modern 1864 1940 Poet Einar Bragi Modern 1921 2005 Poet Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran Modern 1859 1938 Newspaper editor, et al Einar Kárason Contemporary 1955 Living Novelist Einar Már Guðmundson Contemporary 1954 Living Novelist Einar Ragnarsson Kvaran Modern 1920 2012 Genealogist Einarr Gilsson Medieval Unknown 14th century poet Einarr Hafliðason Medieval 1307 1393 14th century chronicler Einarr Helgason Medieval Unknown 10th century skald Einarr Skúlason Medieval 1100 1159 12th century skald Eiríkur Bergmann Contemporary 1969 Living Scholarly author & novelistSamsærið Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl Contemporary 1978 Living Poet llska Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson Contemporary 1955 Living Scholarly author Elín Briem Modern 1856 1937 Cookbook author Elín Ebba Gunnarsdóttir Contemporary 1953 Living Short fiction author Elísabet Jökulsdóttir Contemporary 1958 Living Journalist and poet Elsa G. Vilmundardóttir Modern 1932 2008 Non-fiction author Emil Thoroddsen Modern 1898 1944 Songwriter Erla Stefánsdóttir Contemporary 1935 2015 Seer Ernir Kristján Snorrason Modern 1944 2012 Novelist Eyjólfr Dáðaskáld Medieval Unknown Skald Eysteinn Ásgrímsson Medieval 1310 1360 Poet Eysteinn Björnsson Contemporary 1942 Living Author Eysteinn Valdason Medieval Unknown 10th century skald Skj info: Eysteinn Valdason, Islænder, omkr. 1000. (AI, 140, BI, 131) Eyvindur P. Eiríksson Contemporary 1935 Living Poet

F

+ Given names beginning with "F" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work CitationsFríða Ísberg Contemporary 1992 Living NovelistMerking Finnur Jónsson Modern 1858 1934 Scholar Historia Ecclesiastica Islandiæ Finnur Magnússon Modern 1781 1847 Scholarly author Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir Modern 1940 2010 Novelist

G

+ Given names beginning with "G" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Gamli Gnævaðarskáld Medieval Unknown Skald Gerður Kristný Contemporary 1970 Living Poet Gísli Örn Garðarsson Contemporary 1973 Living Screenwriter Gísli Rúnar Jónsson Contemporary 1953 2020 Screenwriter Glúmr Geirason Medieval Unknown 10th century skald Gottskálk grimmi Nikulásson Medieval 1469 1520 Author of Rauðskinna Grímur Hákonarson Contemporary 1977 Living Screenwriter Grímur Thomsen Modern 1820 1896 Poet Guðbergur Bergsson Contemporary 1932 2023 Author Guðmundur Andri Thorsson Contemporary 1957 Living Novelist Guðmundur G. Hagalín Modern 1898 1985 Short story author Guðmundur Kamban Modern 1888 1945 Novelist Guðmundur Steingrímsson Contemporary 1972 Living Guðni Th. Jóhannesson Contemporary 1968 Living Non-fiction writer Guðný Halldórsdóttir Contemporary 1954 Living Screenwriter Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir Contemporary 1976 Living Novelist Guðrún frá Lundi Modern 1887 1975 Novelist Guðrún Helgadóttir Contemporary 1935 2022 Children's book author Guðrún Kristín Magnúsdóttir Contemporary 1939 Living Author Guðrún Lárusdóttir Modern 1880 1938 Writer Gunnar Gunnarsson Modern 1889 1975 Novelist Gunnlaugr Leifsson Medieval 1190 1218 Poet Gunnlaugr Ormstunga Medieval 983 1008 Poet Gyrðir Elíasson Contemporary 1961 Living Poet

H

+ Given names beginning with "H" Name Gender Period Born Died Genre/Type Notable work Citations Halla Gunnarsdóttir Contemporary 1981 Living Journalist Hallar-Steinn Medieval Unknown 13th century poet Halldór Guðmundsson Contemporary 1956 Living Biographer Halldór Laxness Modern 1902 1998 Iceland's Nobel laureate Halldóra K. Thoroddsen Contemporary 1950 2020 Novelist Halldórr skvaldri Medieval Unknown Skald Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld Medieval 965 1007 Skald Hallgerður Gísladóttir Modern 1952 2007 Poet Hallgrímur Helgason Contemporary 1959 Living Novelist Hallgrímur Pétursson Modern 1614 1674 Poet Hannes Hafstein Modern 1861 1922 Poet Hannes Pétursson Contemporary 1931 Living Poet Hannes Sigfússon Modern 1922 1997 Poet Haukr Erlendsson Modern 1265 1334 Scholar Helgi Pjeturss Modern 1872 1949 Scientific writer Hera Hjartardóttir Contemporary 1983 Living Songwriter Hermann Pálsson Modern 1921 2002 Scholar Hermann Stefánsson Contemporary 1968 Living Author Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Modern 1958 Living Music writer Hitesh Ceon Contemporary 1974 Living Songwriter Hjálmar Jónsson Modern 1796 1875 Poet Hrafnhildur Hagalín Contemporary 1965 Living Playwright Hulda Modern 1881 1946 Poet

I