Gerður Kristný
Gerður Kristný is an Icelandic poet; she has also written short stories, novels and books for children.Life and work
Gerður Kristný was born on 10 June 1970 and brought up in Reykjavík. She graduated in French and comparative literature from the University of Iceland in 1992.
Gerður has published collections of poetry and short stories, novels, books for children and a biography. Her play The Dancing at Bessastadir, based on two of her children's books, premiered in the Icelandic National Theater in Reykjavík in February 2011, and was acclaimed by the public and critics alike.
In 2005, Gerður received the Icelandic Journalism Award for her biography Myndin af pabba. In 2010, she won the Icelandic Literature Award for her book of poetry Blóðhófnir which is based on an ancient Nordic myth, told primarily in the Eddic poem Skírnismál, about the attempt of the Nordic fertility god Freyr to fetch the poet's namesake Gerður Gymisdóttir from her far away home as his bride. Blóðhófnir was nominated to the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2011.
Other awards for her work include The Icelandic Children's Choice Awards in 2003, The Halldór Laxness Literary Award in 2004 and The West-Nordic Children's Literature Award in 2010.
Gerður Kristný lives in Reykjavík but travels regularly around the world to present her work, giving readings in places like Kampala, Cox's Bazar, Java, Maastricht and Colgata.
In 2014, she participated in the International Writing Program's Fall Residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA.Works
- Heimskaut, Mál og Menning, 2019,
- Sálumesssa, Mál og Menning, 2018,
- Smartís, Mál og Menning, 2017,
- Hestvík, Mál og Menning, 2016,
- Drápa, Mál og Menning, 2014,
- Ljóðasafn, Mál og Menning, 2014,
- Strandir, Mál og Menning, 2012,
- Forsetinn, prinsessan og höllin sem svaf, Mál og menning, 2011,
- Blóðhófnir, Mál og Menning, 2010,
- Prinsessan á Bessastöðum, Mál og menning, 2009,
- Garðurinn , Mál og Menning, 2008,
- Höggstaður, Mál og Menning, 2007,
- Ballið á Bessastöðum, Mál og menning, 2010,
- Land hinna týndu sokka, Mál og Menning, 2006
- Myndin af pabba - Saga Thelmu Vaka-Helgafell, 2005
- Bátur með segli og allt, Vaka-Helgafell, 2004,
- Jóladýrin, Mál og Menning, 2004,
- Marta smarta, Mál og Menning, 2002,
- Launkofi, Mál og Menning, 2000,
- Eitruð epli, Mál og Menning, 1998,
- Regnbogi í póstinum, Mál og Menning, 1996,
- Ísfrétt, Mál og menning, 1994,
Works in English
- Sewing Sisters
- Poems in NorthWords
- Bloodhoof, Translated by Rory McTurk, Arc Pub., 2012,
- Drápa - A Reykjavík Murder Mystery, Translated by Rory McTurk, Arc Pub., 2018,
