

James Anderson Thompson is the translator of this beautiful paperback in English, which also includes an Introduction by Brad Leithauser. It was published (as Sjálfstætt fólk) in 1934/35. I have been reading Independent People, the most important book by Iceland’s 1955 Nobelist, Halldór Laxness.

Becoming better acquainted with these authors–both those we have read already and those still awaiting our exploration–was the best part of the challenge for me, since I now have a better conception of how the prize has grown and changed over time, especially in its expansion beyond Europe to Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia. Her announcement post for April’s combined challenge has the linkups of those who participated, along with numerous helpful links for learning more about the Nobel Prize in Literature and the diverse array of authors it has recognized. I have really enjoyed this month’s Travel the World in Books (#TTWIB) challenge, organized by Aloi of Guiltless Reading, who invited us to read one book by a Nobel prize-winning author.
