The Modern Novel

Biography

Halldór Laxness was born Halldór Gudjónsson in Reykjavik in 1902. When he was three, the family moved to the farm of Laxnes, near Reykjavik, from which he would take his pen-name. He wrote extensively while a child, though his father tried hard to nurture his musical talents. He attended school in Reykjavik but left before completing his final exam. (He took it again five years later and failed.) His father died that year and he published his first novel, which was not well received. He then went on a tour of Europe. While in Copenhagen, he tried writing in Danish, as other Icelandic writers had done and some of his stories were published in a Danish newspaper. However, by the time he returned home in 1920, he had reverted to writing in Icelandic. After studying and tutoring, he was off again on his travels. He applied to reside in Canada but his application was lost and he was not allowed to enter. Back in Denmark, he met an Icelandic woman and she had a baby by him. This led him to seek admission to the Benedictine monastery of St. Maurice de Clervaux in Luxembourg, where he adopted the name of the Irish martyr, St. Kilian. He used the name Halldór Kiljan Laxness to sign his books till late in life.

He left the monastery and was determined to devote himself to God. He continued writing, producing novels, poetry and newspaper articles. He was also travelling, spending time in Italy and in Luxembourg. He also visited North America, starting in Canada and ending up in Hollywood. He tried, unsuccessfully, to break into the cinema and also contemplated writing in English. He was also nearly tried for treason by the US authorities for writing an article critical of American capitalism. Back in Iceland, he wrote extensively, producing many of the novels for which he is famous as well as travelling, getting married and having a son and being involved in politics. He went on to produce over fifty novels, which brought him world renown, including the award of the Nobel Prize in 1955. He died in 1998.

Other links

Halldór Laxness
Halldór Kiljan Laxness
Halldór Kiljan Laxness
Gljúfrasteinn – The House of Halldór Laxness