Literature Atlas

How Stories Are Told
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Author

Halldór Laxness

Scandinavian and Nordic Literature

Halldor Kiljan Laxness, born Halldor Gudjonsson, was an Icelandic writer who lived from 1902 to 1998 and was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature. Across a body of work that includes novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories, he was shaped by writers including August Strindberg, Knut Hamsun, Sinclair Lewis, Upton Sinclair, Bertolt Brecht and Ernest Hemingway, becoming Iceland's most internationally recognized modern author.

Facts
Birth Year
1902 1
Birth Date
1902-04-23 2
Death Year
1998 1
Death Date
1998-02-08 2
Award
Nobel Prize in Literature (1955) 2
Classification
Original Language
Icelandic 1
FAQs

Why was Halldór Laxness awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature?

He was honored in 1955 for renewing Iceland's great narrative art through epic power.

Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955 for renewing the great narrative art of Iceland through the epic power of his work. The encyclopedia source also notes that he wrote almost exclusively in Icelandic and took his subject matter from the realities of Icelandic society and history.
Connections

In Genre

Drama, Genres
Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness
Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness
Poetry, Genres
Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness
Short Fiction, Genres
Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness
The Novel, Genres
Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness

Works Attributed

In the Other Atlases

Original Language

Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.

Nationality

Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Halldór Laxnesstier 2
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Halldór Laxness
Wikipedia
  • Original language statement
    Halldór Kiljan Laxness (Icelandic: [ˈhaltour ˈcʰɪljan ˈlaxsnɛs] ; born Halldór Guðjónsson; 23 April 1902-8 February 1998) was an Icelandic writer and winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.
  • In Genre: The Novel, Lead paragraph
    He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories.
  • In Genre: Poetry, Lead paragraph
    He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories.
  • In Genre: Drama, Lead paragraph
    He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories.
  • In Genre: Short Fiction, Lead paragraph
    He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories.
  • In Genre: Nonfiction Prose, Lead paragraph
    He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories.
View the Source
2. Laxness, Halldor (Halldor Gudjonsson) (23 April 1902 - 8 February 1998) - Encyclopedia.com
  • Birth paragraph, birth year clause
    He was born Halldór Guðjónsson in Reykjavík on 23 April 1902 in a little rear house at Laugavegur 32.
  • Death paragraph, death year clause
    he died there on 8 February 1998 at the age of ninety-five.
  • Birth paragraph, birth date clause
    He was born Halldór Guðjónsson in Reykjavík on 23 April 1902 in a little rear house at Laugavegur 32.
  • Death paragraph, death date clause
    he died there on 8 February 1998 at the age of ninety-five.
  • Nobel Prize paragraph
    In 1955 Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for, in the words of the Swedish Academy, his 'vivid epic power, which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland.'
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.