隨著一連舉行三次的詩格洛絲放映日，我們特別搜羅了一批冰島小說的英譯本，透過音樂、影像、文字，讓我們從不同的切入點認識這個隨時受地理與經濟撼動的島國。
together with the 3 screenings of sigur rós productions (http://www.aco.hk/iceland), we are recommending some icelandic novels (Eng translation). through music, images and text, let’s get to know this island country which is constantly under threat of volcanic activity and economic crisis.
Halldór Laxness (1902 - 1998)
From the age of seventeen on, he travelled and lived abroad, chiefly on the European continent. He was influenced by expressionism and other modern currents in Germany and France. In the mid-twenties he was converted to Catholicism; his spiritual experiences are reflected in several books of an autobiographical nature, chiefly Undir Helgahnúk (Under the Holy Mountain), 1924. In 1927, he published his first important novel, Vefarinn mikli frá Kasmír (The Great Weaver from Kashmir). Laxness’s religious period did not last long; during a visit to America he became attracted to socialism. Alþydubókin (The Book of the People), 1929, is evidence of a change toward a socialist outlook. In 1930, Laxness settled in Iceland.
Laxness’s main achievement consists of three novel cycles written during the thirties, dealing with the people of Iceland. Þú vínviður hreini, 1931, and Fuglinn í fjörunni, 1932, (both translated as Salka Valka), tell the story of a poor fisher girl; Sjálfstætt fólk (Independent People), 1934-35, treats the fortunes of small farmers, whereas the tetralogy Ljós heimsins (The Light of the World), 1937-40, has as its hero an Icelandic folk poet. Laxness’s later works are frequently historical and influenced by the saga tradition: Íslandsklukkan (The Bell of Iceland), 1943-46, Gerpla (The Happy Warriors), 1952, and Paradísarheimt (Paradise Reclaimed), 1960.
Laxness won the Nobel Prize in Literature 1955.
Laxness on shelf
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喜歡張愛玲的，大概都知道張愛玲的小說，是「文本細讀」的上佳材料。這個讀書會由小西等發起，約每兩星期舉行一次，大概是就著《傳奇》中的小說一篇一篇的作報告。希望之後可以通過張愛玲的文本，重拾「文本細讀」的傳統。
