Book Club Returns with Iceland's Bell

Editor Note: There is a change in the usual timing for this event. It will be taking place at 1200 noon Central Time (DST) on October 2^nd. See the Event Calendar and/or your Samkoma newsletter for your specific times zone. We will see you there!

Welcome back!

We kick off our Book Club season this fall with the book Iceland’s Bell, written by Nobel Laureate Halldór Laxness and more recently translated into English by Philip Roughton.

We are once again pleased to welcome Philip Roughton as our guest to talk about one of the books he translated. He has been a guest of the Book Club in the past. Please join us for another invigorating conversation that is inspiring and enjoyable.

Philip has taught literature at the university level in the US and Iceland. His work in translation includes numerous Icelandic novels, biographies, short stories, film scripts, plays, poetry collections, song lyrics, articles and essays, and scholarly works.

ICELAND’S BELL

The author, Halldór Laxness, was born Halldór Guðjónsson on 23 April 1902. He chose to adopt the surname Laxness, the name of the area, Laxnes, where he grew up after leaving Reykjavik with his family as a young lad. By the age of 17, he had published his first novel, followed by a long and honorable literary career. He wrote more than 60 novels, many short stories, and wrote poetry and plays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955. He died on 28 February 1998.

The original book was written in Icelandic and published in three different parts: Iceland’s Bell (1943), The Fair Maiden (1944), and Fire in Copenhagen (1946). In 2003, the dedicated expertise of Philip Roughton brought to us in English this amazing story with its three parts under the title of Iceland’s Bell.

This historic novel is set in the 17^th century that encompasses a broad political landscape of Denmark and its oppressive rule over Iceland as one of its colonies. A clear divide exists between the wealthy nobles and priests with little, if any, social support for those who suffer poverty, famine, and plague. It is a tragic tale full of vengeance and violence with comedic fragments, folkloric in style, similar to those of the Icelandic Sagas. It may have you crying and laughing throughout its pages.

The first part, Iceland’s Bell, introduces many characters, with the central role of Jón Hreggviðsson, who is a poor, hapless farmer caught on the wrong side of the authorities. This rogue character is woven throughout. After being accused of stealing cord to tie his fish, rather than being sent to a workhouse, Jón is sent back to manage his farm tenancy. His family, a mix-n-match of interesting individuals, is unable to care for the farm or themselves while he is away.

Jón, while travelling to his home, is unintentionally accompanied by the King’s men who just happen to be going in the same direction. After the group had a drunken night together, the King’s hangman was found the next day, and Jón was accused of the murder. After a finding of guilt, Jón is sent to prison to await his death, where he meets others suffering a similar fate for different transgressions. Jón manages to escape his captors, fleeing to Denmark to plead with the King for a pardon.

The second part of the book, The Fair Maiden, focuses on Snæfríður Íslandssól, whose name means “Snow-Beautiful Iceland's-Sun". This young, beautiful noblewoman, whom we meet in the first part, is in love with Arnas Arnaeus, a collector of manuscripts and Iceland’s history, whom we also met earlier. Fate brought these two together, then sent them down different paths. They do cross again, but as adversaries, with Snæfríður seeking to clear her father’s name. In the meantime, she marries another, Magnús Sigurðsson, a wealthy man with a fondness of wasting his wealth and alcohol, often with violent results.

The Fire in Copenhagen takes us to Denmark and Arnas Arnaeus, the King’s aquitarian, as he busies himself with his fine collection of manuscripts from earlier years. Despite his position with the aristocracy, Arnas is an ardent supporter of the oppression imposed upon the Icelandic people.

We are very thankful to Philip Roughton for his work translating this acclaimed novel into English. Halldór Laxness’ Iceland’s Bell is steeped in historical fiction, with an engaging narrative that reveals the lives of the aristocracy versus those who are poverty-stricken, and their resolve and hope for making a better life for themselves.

Please join us on October 2^nd as we chat with Philip Roughton about the translation process, his work on this magnificent book, and his upcoming work. Remember, you don’t have to read the book to attend. Join us if it is of interest to you! You’ll be keen to read the book after the discussion, guaranteed!

The IR Book Club is open to IR Members only. If you’d like to become a Member, please check out the Membership Options.

The date and time for this Book Club is available on our Event Calendar. Also, a Samkoma newsletter will be sent to all registered Member’s on October 1^st with the link to join us on Zoom.