List of Icelandic writers

Halldór Kiljan Laxness, one of Iceland's most noted authors, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955^[1]

Iceland has a rich literary history, which has carried on into the modern period.^[2] It is estimated that 99% of the Icelandic population is literate.^[3] According to the BBC, in 2013 Iceland had the highest number of writers, books published, and books read per capita than any other country, with one in ten Icelanders expected to publish a book.^[4]

Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir, author of children's and young adult fiction

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.^[5][6] 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.^[7] The Saga tradition is not limited only to Iceland, and is an integral part of Norse mythology throughout the Nordics.^[8][9]

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,^[10] and the Skaldic poetry attributed to a series of skalds, who were court poets who lived in the Viking Age and Middle Ages.^[11][12] 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.^[13] Later Icelandic poetry includes the Passion Hymns by Hallgrímur Pétursson, a collection of Christian religious poetry published in 1666.^[14] Modern poets include Einar Benediktsson, a neo-Romantic poet who was an important figure in Iceland's nationalistic literary revival during the 19th century,^[15] and 20th-century poets such as Tómas Guðmundsson and Davíð Stefánsson.

Halldór Laxness is the only Icelander to have been awarded the Nobel Prize.^[16] 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.^[17] Icelandic authors have won the Nordic Council's Literature Prize nine times.^[18]

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.^[19]

Following is a list of notable Icelandic writers.^{[lower-alpha 1]} 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,^{[lower-alpha 2]} 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.^{[lower-alpha 3]} 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

Arngrímur Jónsson the Learned, an Icelandic scholar who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries^[20]

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	[21][22]
Anna Mjöll Ólafsdóttir		Contemporary	1970	Living	Jazz songwriter	Sjúbídú	[23][24]
Anna Svanhildur Björnsdóttir		Contemporary	1948	Living	Poet	Örugglega ég	[25][26][27]
Ari Jósefsson		Modern	1939	1964	Poet	Nei	[28][29]
Ari Trausti Guðmundsson		Contemporary	1948	Living	Non-fiction author	Vegalínur	[30][31]
Ari Þorgilsson		Medieval	1067	1148	Medieval chronicler	Íslendingabók	[32][33]
Arnaldur Indriðason		Contemporary	1961	Living	Crime fiction author	Detective Erlendur series	[34][35][36]
Arndís Þórarinsdóttir		Contemporary	1982	Living	Children's books author		[37]
Arngrímr Brandsson		Medieval	1325	1361	14th century author	Guðmundar saga D	[38]
Arngrímur Jónsson		Medieval	1568	1648	16th century scholar	Brevis commentarius de Islandia	[39][40]
Arnórr Jarlaskáld		Medieval	1012	1070	Skald		[41][42]
Arnþór Birgisson		Contemporary	1976	Living	Dance music songwriter
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir		Contemporary	1958	Living	Novelist	Butterflies in November	[43][44]
Auður Jónsdóttir		Contemporary	1973	Living	Novelist	Secretaries to the Spirits	[45]
Auður Laxness		Modern	1918	2012	Wife of Halldór Laxness	Melkorka	[46]

Á

Writer and journalist Árni Þórarinsson

Given names beginning with "Á"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Álfrún Gunnlaugsdóttir		Contemporary	1938	Living	Novelist	Þel	[47][48]
Ágústína Jónsdóttir		Contemporary	1949	Living	Poet	Að baki mánans	[49][50]
Árni Bergmann		Contemporary	1935	Living	Novelist	Thorvald the Widely-Travelled	[51]
Árni Böðvarsson		Modern	1924	1992	Dictionary editor		[52][53]
Árni Lárentíusson		Medieval	1304	1337	Medieval prose writer	Dunstanus saga
Árni Þórarinsson		Contemporary	1950	Living	Crime writer and journalist		[54]
Áslaug Jónsdóttir		Contemporary	1963	Living	Children's book author	Skrímsli í vanda	[55]

B

Bjarni Bjarnason, novelist

Given names beginning with "B"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Baldur Ragnarsson		Contemporary	1930	Living	Poet		[56]
Barði Jóhannsson		Contemporary	1975	Living	Music writer
Bergljót Arnalds		Contemporary	1968	Living	Children's book author		[57]
Bergr Sokkason		Medieval	1316	1350	14th century scholar	Micheals Saga	[58]
Bergþóra Árnadóttir		Modern	1948	2007	Folk song writer		[59]
Bersi Skáldtorfuson		Medieval	980	1030	11th century skald		[60]
Birgir Sigurðsson		Contemporary	1937	Living	Drama writer
Birgitta Jónsdóttir		Contemporary	1967	Living	Poet		[61][62]
Bjarki Karlsson		Contemporary	1965	Living	Poet	Árleysi alda	[63][64]
Bjarni Bjarnason		Contemporary	1965	Living	Novelist	Endurkoma Maríu
Bjarni Harðarson		Contemporary	1961	Living	Novelist		[65][66]
Bjarni Thorarensen		Modern	1786	1841	Poet		[67][68]
Björgvin Franz Gíslason		Contemporary	1977	Living	Children's book author		[69]
Björk Guðmundsdóttir		Contemporary	1965	Living	Songwriter		[70]
Björn Th. Björnsson		Modern	1922	2007	Novelist		[71][72]
Böðvar Guðmundsson		Contemporary	1939	Living	Novelist		[73]
Bogi Ágústsson		Contemporary	1952	Living	Journalist		[74]
Bragi Boddason		Medieval	800	850	9th century poet
Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir		Contemporary	1982	Living	Children's book author		[75]
Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir		Contemporary	1970	Living	Children's book author
Brynjar Leifsson		Contemporary	1990	Living	Songwriter
Brynjólfur Pétursson		Modern	1810	1851	Magazine editor	Fjölnismenn	[76][77]

D

Given names beginning with "D"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Davíð Oddsson		Contemporary	1948	Living	Newspaper editor	Editor of Morgunblaðið	[78][79]
Davíð Stefánsson		Modern	1895	1964	Poet		[80][81]
Drífa Viðar		Modern	1920	1971	Novelist	Fjalldalslilja	[82][83][84]

E

Elín Briem, author of Kvennafræðarinn

Given names beginning with "E"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Eggert Ólafsson		Modern	1726	1768	Poet	Reise igiennem Island	[85]
Egill Helgason		Contemporary	1959	Living	Journalist		[86]
Egill Skallagrímsson		Medieval	904	995	Viking-Age poet	Höfuðlausn	[87]
Eilífr Goðrúnarson		Medieval	Unknown		10th-century skald	Þórsdrápa	[88]
Eilífr kúlnasveinn		Medieval	Unknown		12th or 13th century skald		[89]
Einar Benediktsson		Modern	1864	1940	Poet		[90]
Einar Bragi		Modern	1921	2005	Poet		[91]
Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran		Modern	1859	1938	Newspaper editor, et al		[92]
Einar Kárason		Contemporary	1955	Living	Novelist		[93][94]
Einar Már Guðmundson		Contemporary	1954	Living	Novelist		[95]
Einar Ragnarsson Kvaran		Modern	1920	2012	Genealogist		[96]
Einarr Gilsson		Medieval	Unknown		14th century poet		[97]
Einarr Hafliðason		Medieval	1307	1393	14th century chronicler		[98]
Einarr Helgason		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald		[99][100]
Einarr Skúlason		Medieval	1100	1159	12th century skald		[101]
Eiríkur Bergmann		Contemporary	1969	Living	Scholarly author		[102][103]
Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl		Contemporary	1978	Living	Poet	llska	[104]
Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson		Contemporary	1955	Living	Scholarly author		[105]
Elín Briem		Modern	1856	1937	Cookbook author		[106]
Elín Ebba Gunnarsdóttir		Contemporary	1953	Living	Short fiction author		[107]
Elísabet Jökulsdóttir		Contemporary	1958	Living	Journalist and poet		[108]
Elsa G. Vilmundardóttir		Modern	1932	2008	Non-fiction author		[109]
Emil Thoroddsen		Modern	1898	1944	Songwriter		[110]
Erla Stefánsdóttir		Contemporary	1935	2015	Seer		[111]
Ernir Kristján Snorrason		Modern	1944	2012	Novelist		[112]
Eyjólfr Dáðaskáld		Medieval	Unknown		Skald		[113]
Eysteinn Ásgrímsson		Medieval	1310	1360	Poet		[114]
Eysteinn Björnsson		Contemporary	1942	Living	Author		[115]
Eysteinn Valdason		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald		[116]
Eyvindur P. Eiríksson		Contemporary	1935	Living	Poet		[117]

F

Finnur Jónsson

Given names beginning with "F"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Finnur Jónsson		Modern	1858	1934	Scholar	Historia Ecclesiastica Islandiæ	[118]
Finnur Magnússon		Modern	1781	1847	Scholarly author
Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir		Modern	1940	2010	Novelist		[119][120][121]

G

Poet and children's author Gerður Kristný

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	Living	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	Living	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	Living	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

Hera Hjartardóttir

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	Living	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		[122]
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 Grétarsson		Contemporary	1982	Living	Magazine editor
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

Given names beginning with "I"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir		Contemporary	1978	Living	Screenwriter	Ástríður	[123]
Indriði G. Þorsteinsson		Modern	1926	2000	Novelist	79 af stöðinni	[124]
Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir		Modern	1942	2016	Poet	Kona	[125][126][127][128]
Ingólfur Margeirsson		Modern	1948	2011	Newspaper editor	Lífsjátning	[129][130]

Í

Given names beginning with "Í"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Íeda Herman		Contemporary	1918	Living	Author	Viking Kids Don't Cry	[131]
Ísak Harðarson		Contemporary	1956	Living	Poet		[132]

J

Playwright and poet Jóhann Sigurjónsson

Given names beginning with "J"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Jakobína Sigurðardóttir		Modern	1918	1994	Modernist writer
Jófríður Ákadóttir		Contemporary	1994	Living	Songwriter
Jóhann Gunnar Sigurðsson		Modern	1882	1906	Poet
Jóhann Sigurjónsson		Modern	1880	1919	Poet
Jóhannes úr Kötlum		Modern	1899	1972	Poet
Jón Árnason		Modern	1819	1888	Folklorist
Jón Atli Jónasson		Contemporary	1972	Living	Playwright
Jón Helgason		Modern	1899	1986	Poet
Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson		Modern	1927	2010	Folklorist
Jón Kalman Stefánsson		Contemporary	1963	Living	Novelist
Jón lærði Guðmundsson		Modern	1574	1651	Sorcerer and poet
Jón Leifs		Modern	1899	1968	Music writer
Jón Magnússon		Modern	1610	1696	Author of the Píslarsaga
Jón Oddsson Hjaltalín		Modern	1749	1835	Religious writer
Jón Ólafsson		Modern	1850	1916	Journalist
Jón Ólafsson[lower-alpha 4]		Modern	1594	1679	Explorer and autobiographer
Jón Örn Loðmfjörð		Contemporary	1983	Living	Experimental poet
Jón Óskar		Modern	1921	1998	Poet
Jón Sveinsson		Modern	1857	1944	Children's book writer
Jón Thoroddsen elder		Modern	1818	1868	Poet and novelist
Jón Thoroddsen junior		Modern	1898	1924	Author
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson		Contemporary	1928	Living	Newspaper editor
Jón úr Vör		Modern	1917	2000	Poet
Jónas Hallgrímsson		Modern	1807	1845	Magazine editor
Jónas Kristjánsson		Modern	1924	2014	Novelist
Jónína Leósdóttir		Contemporary	1954	Living	Author
Jórunn skáldmær		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald

K

Children's writer Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir

Given names beginning with "K"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Karl Jónsson		Medieval	1135	1213	Poet
Kolbeinn Tumason		Medieval	1173	1207	Poet
Konráð Gíslason		Modern	1808	1891	Grammarian
Kormákr Ögmundarson		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald
Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir		Contemporary	1963	Living	Children's book writer
Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir		Contemporary	1949	Living	Novelist
Kristín Ómarsdóttir		Contemporary	1962	Living	Author
Kristín Steinsdóttir		Contemporary	1946	Living	Children's book writer
Kristinn Ármannsson		Modern	1895	1966	Author of Latin Grammar
Kristinn Hrafnsson		Contemporary	1962	Living	Investigative journalist
Kristján B. Jónasson		Contemporary	1967	Living	Biographer
Kristján Karlsson		Modern	1922	2014	Poet
Kristjan Niels Julius		Modern	1860	1936	Poet
Kristmann Guðmundsson		Modern	1901	1983	Novelist

L

Given names beginning with "L"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Lilja Sigurðardóttir		Contemporary	1972	Living	Crime fiction writer	Snare	[133]
Linda Vilhjálmsdóttir		Contemporary	1958	Living	Poet		[134]

M

Poet Matthías Jochumsson

Given names beginning with "M"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Magnús Eiríksson		Modern	1806	1881	Theologian		[135]
Magnús Jónsson		Modern	1530	1591	Poet
Magnús Jónsson í Tjaldanesi		Modern	1835	1922	Scribe		[136][137]
Magnús Kjartansson		Modern	1919	1981	Newspaper editor		[138]
Magnus Magnusson		Modern	1929	2007	Journalist		[139][140][141]
Magnús Þór Jónsson		Contemporary	1945	Living	Songwriter
María Lilja Þrastardóttir		Contemporary	1986	Living	Author
Marta María Stephensen		Modern	1770	1805	Pioneering author
Matthías Jochumsson		Modern	1835	1920	Author of Lofsöngur
Mikael Torfason		Contemporary	1974	Living	Novelist	Syndafallið	[142][143]

N

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir

Given names beginning with "N"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir		Contemporary	1989	Living	Songwriter
Nína Björk Árnadóttir		Modern	1941	2000	Novelist		[144][145]

O

Given names beginning with "O"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Oddný Eir		Contemporary	1972	Living	Autobiographer		[146]
Oddr Snorrason		Medieval	Unknown		Medieval chronicler	The Saga of Olaf Tryggvason	[147][148][149]
Olvir Hnufa		Medieval	Unknown		Skald		[150]

Ó

Ólína Þorvarðardóttir

Given names beginning with "Ó"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Ófeigur Sigurðsson		Contemporary	1975	Living	Poet		[151]
Óláfr Leggsson		Medieval	Unknown		13th century skald
Óláfr Þórðarson		Medieval	1210	1259	Skald		[152]
Ólafur Egilsson		Modern	1564	1639	Autobiographer	Reisubók séra Ólafs Egilssonar	[153]
Ólafur Gunnarsson		Contemporary	1948	Living	Author		[154]
Ólafur Haukur Símonarson		Contemporary	1947	Living	Playwright		[155][156][157]
Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson		Contemporary	1962	Living	Novelist		[158]
Ólafur Jóhann Sigurðsson		Contemporary	1918	1988	Novelist		[159]
Ólafur Jóhannesson		Contemporary	1975	Living	Screenwriter		[160]
Ólína Þorvarðardóttir		Contemporary	1958	Living	Scholar		[161][162]
Óskar Halldórsson		Modern	1921	1983	Scholar		[163]
Óskar Jónasson		Contemporary	1963	Living	Screenwriter		[164]
Óttar M. Norðfjörð		Contemporary	1980	Living	Crime fiction writer		[165]
Óttarr svarti		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[166]

Ö

Poet Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason

Given names beginning with "Ö"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Örn Árnason		Contemporary	1959	Living	Screenwriter		[167]
Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason		Contemporary	1977	Living	Poet		[168]

P

Given names beginning with "P"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Páll Ólafsson		Modern	1827	1905	Poet		[169]
Paul Oscar		Contemporary	1970	Living	Songwriter	Minn hinsti dans	[170]
Pétur Gunnarsson		Contemporary	1947	Living	Author		[171]
Pétur Þorsteinsson		Contemporary	1955	Living	Dictionary editor	Pétrísk-Íslensk Orðabók	[172]

R

Given names beginning with "R"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Ragna Sigurðardóttir		Contemporary	1962	Living	Author	Borg (City)	[173]
Ragnar Jónasson		Contemporary	1976	Living	Crime writer	Dark Iceland series	[174][175]
Ragnar Þórhallsson		Contemporary	1987	Living	Songwriter
Ragnheiður Gestsdóttir		Contemporary	1953	Living	Children's author		[176]
Róbert Ingi Douglas		Contemporary	1973	Living	Screenwriter
Rósa Guðmundsdóttir		Modern	1795	1855	Poet		[177][178]
Rúnar Rúnarsson		Contemporary	1977	Living	Screenwriter		[179]

S

Snorri Hergill Kristjánsson

Given names beginning with "S"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Sæmundr fróði		Medieval	1056	1133	11th century scholar
Sigfús Daðason		Modern	1928	1996	Poet
Sighvatr Sturluson		Medieval	1170	1238	Poet
Sigrún Davíðsdóttir		Contemporary	1955	Living	Journalist
Sigrún Edda Björnsdóttir		Contemporary	1958	Living	Author
Sigurbjörg Þrastardóttir		Contemporary	1973	Living	Poet
Sigurður Breiðfjörð		Modern	1798	1846	Poet
Sigurður Nordal		Modern	1886	1974	Scholar
Sigurður Pálsson		Modern	1948	2017	Poet
Sigurður Sigurjónsson		Contemporary	1955	Living	Screenwriter
Sigurlaug Gísladóttir		Contemporary	1984	Living	Songwriter
Sigurlaugur Elíasson		Contemporary	1957	Living	Poet
Sigvatr Þórðarson		Medieval	995	1045	Skald
Sindri Freysson		Contemporary	1970	Living	Novelist
Sindri Sindrason		Contemporary	Unknown		Journalist
Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson		Contemporary	1962	Living	Poet
Skapti Þóroddsson		Medieval	?	1030	Skald
Skúli Þórsteinsson		Medieval	Unknown		Poet
Snorri Hergill Kristjánsson		Contemporary	1974	Living	Author
Snorri Hjartarson		Modern	1906	1986	Poet
Snorri Sturluson		Medieval	1179	1241	Poet
Sóley Stefánsdóttir		Contemporary	1986	Living	Songwriter
Sólveig Anspach		Modern	1960	2015	Screenwriter
Sölvi Fannar		Contemporary	1971	Living
Stefán Einarsson		Modern	1897	1972	Literary historian
Stefán frá Hvítadal		Modern	1887	1933	Poet
Stefán Hörður Grímsson		Modern	1919	2002	Poet
Stefán Jón Hafstein		Contemporary	1955	Living	Author
Stefán Sigurðsson		Modern	1887	1933	Poet
Steinar Bragi		Contemporary	1975	Living	Author
Steingrímur Thorsteinsson		Modern	1831	1913	Translator
Steinn Steinarr		Modern	1908	1958	Poet
Steinunn Finnsdóttir		Modern	1640	1710	Poet
Steinunn Refsdóttir		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald
Steinunn Sigurðardóttir		Contemporary	1950	Living	Novelist
Steinvör Sighvatsdóttir		Medieval	1210	1271	Poet
Stefán Guðmundur Guðmundsson		Modern	1853	1927	Poet
Sturla Þórðarson		Medieval	1214	1284	Skald
Svala Björgvinsdóttir		Contemporary	1977	Living	Songwriter
Svava Jakobsdóttir		Modern	1930	2004	Author
Svavar Knútur Kristinsson		Medieval	Unknown		Songwriter
Sveinbjörn Egilsson		Modern	1791	1852	Theologian

T

Icelandic historian Thormodus Torfæus

Given names beginning with "T"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Thor Vilhjálmsson		Modern	1925	2011	Writer
Thorarinn Leifsson		Contemporary	1966	Living	Author
Thordis Elva		Contemporary	1980	Living	Autobiographer
Thormodus Torfæus		Modern	1636	1719	Historian
Tindr Hallkelsson		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald
Tómas Guðmundsson		Modern	1901	1983	Poet
Tómas Sæmundsson		Modern	1807	1841	Fjölnismenn
Tony Jonsson		Modern	1921	2001	Autobiographer
Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir		Modern	1845	1918	Iceland's first woman novelist
Tyrfingur Tyrfingsson		Contemporary	1987	Living	Playwright

Þ

Children's author Þórdís Gísladóttir

Given names beginning with "Þ"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Þjóðólfr Arnórsson		Medieval	1010	1066	11th century skald		[180]
Þór Whitehead		Contemporary	1943	Living	Historian		[181]
Þórarinn Eldjárn		Contemporary	1949	Living	Author		[182]
Þórarinn loftunga		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[183]
Þórarinn Skeggjason		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[184]
Þórbergur Þórðarson		Modern	1889	1974	Author		[185][186]
Þorbjörn dísarskáld		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[187][188]
Þórdís Gísladóttir		Contemporary	1965	Living	Children's book author		[189][190]
Þórðr Kolbeinsson		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[191]
Þórðr Sjáreksson		Medieval	Unknown		11th century skald		[192]
Þórður Helgason		Contemporary	1947	Living	Author		[193]
Þorgils gjallandi		Modern	1851	1915	Author		[194]
Þorgrímur Þráinsson		Contemporary	1959	Living	Writer		[195][196]
Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir		Contemporary	1987	Living	Journalist		[197]
Þórir Jökull Steinfinnsson		Medieval	?	1238	Skald
Þorleifr jarlsskáld		Medieval	Unknown		Skald
Þorleifur Repp		Modern	1794	1857	Newspaper editor
Þorsteinn Erlingsson		Modern	1858	1914	Poet
Þorsteinn frá Hamri		Modern	1938	2018	Poet
Þorsteinn Gylfason		Modern	1942	2005	Philosopher
Þórunn Elfa Magnúsdóttir		Modern	1910	1995	Novelist
Þórunn Erna Clausen		Contemporary	1975	Living	Songwriter
Þórvaldr Hjaltason		Medieval	Unknown		Skald
Þorvaldr veili		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald
Þráinn Bertelsson		Contemporary	1944	Living	Author

U

Given names beginning with "U"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Úlfr Uggason		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald	Húsdrápa	[198]
Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson		Contemporary	Unknown		Songwriter	Color Decay	[199]

V

Author Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir

Given names beginning with "V"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir		Contemporary	1989	Living	Author		[200]
Vetrliði Sumarliðason		Medieval	Unknown		10th century skald		[201]
Vigdís Grímsdóttir		Contemporary	1953	Living	Poet		[202][203]
Vigfúss Víga-Glúmsson		Medieval	Unknown		Skald		[204]
Viktor Arnar Ingólfsson		Contemporary	1955	Living	Crime fiction writer	Afturelding	[205]
Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir		Contemporary	1930	Living	Poet		[206]
Vilborg Davíðsdóttir		Contemporary	1965	Living	Novelist		[207]
Vilmundur Gylfason		Modern	1948	1983	Poet		[208]
Völu-Steinn		Medieval	Unknown		Skald

Y

Given names beginning with "Y"

Name	Gender	Period	Born	Died	Genre/Type	Notable work	Citations
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir		Contemporary	1963	Living	Crime fiction writer	Biobörn	[209]
Yvonne K. Fulbright		Contemporary	?	Living	Sexologist		[210]

See also

• List of Icelandic women writers
• Icelandic literature
• Culture of Iceland
• Icelandic language
• Sagas of Icelanders

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Writers from Iceland.

• Icelandic language Wikisource
• The Writers’ Union of Iceland official website
• In Iceland, a Literary Tour Explores Rich History
• Primary Documents