Galdrastafir – Historical Icelandic magic symbols
4.990 kr.In the 1800s and early 1900s, the tradition of Icelandic magical symbols (galdrastafir) was in decline. At the same time, these symbols, once forbidden upon penalty of death, became the subject of increased interest in the scholarly community. One such scholar was Jónas Jónasson, a priest, folklore collector, and antiquarian who collected and compiled historical Icelandic symbols before his death in 1918. His labors resulted in a manuscript he titled simply Galdrastafir. Now, for the first time, this lush and beautiful book translates and reproduces material and presents
Sketching Bathing in Iceland
4.890 kr.Rán Flygenring ferðaðist eitt sumar vítt og breitt um landið, dýfði sér í hverja laug, lón og náttúrupoll sem hún fann og festi baðmenningu á Íslandi í teikningar. Útkoman er stórkostleg handbók fyrir alla sem áhuga hafa á náttúru landsins, teikningu og mannlegu eðli, auk þess að vera leiðarvísir fyrir erlenda ferðamenn og sundlaugargesti.
Bókin er á ensku.
Bathing outside might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Iceland. Yet, it’s one of the country’s most enjoyable traditions. Regardless of the weather, geothermally heated pools and warm springs mean it is always a good time to take a plunge.
Swimmer, author and illustrator Rán Flygenring spent a summer travelling across Iceland, dipping into every pool, lagoon and natural puddle she could find – sketchbook in hand. This quirky little guide offers insights into Icelandic bathing culture: how to scrub and shower; when to bring a towel (and when not to); what to wear; and where to go. Through her mosaic of quick sketches, Rán gives us a sneak peek into what it feels like, sketching and bathing.
Always Home, Always Homesick: A Love Letter to Iceland
4.690 kr.From the bestselling author of Burial Rites comes an inspirational memoir about her travels in Iceland, an extraordinary country that has forged a nation of storytellers. When she was seventeen years old, Hannah Kent travelled to Iceland from Australia. She’d never seen snow before, didn’t speak a word of Icelandic.
All she knew was that she wanted to have an experience – to soak up something of the world. Soon she found herself isolated in a remote part of Iceland in a dark winter. It was a gruelling experience, but she quickly fell in love with the country: with its brutally beautiful landscapes and with its people.
On returning home, with images of Iceland’s towering glaciers and windswept tundras in her dreams, Hannah began to write. Now, as a mother and a wife, she looks back to that extraordinary year in Iceland.
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See
3.490 kr.Welcome to Iceland, a very small nation with a very large number (two hundred and sixty five) of (mostly) very small museums. Founded in the backyards of houses, begun as jokes or bets or memorials to lost friends, these museums tell the story of an enchanted island where bridges arrived only at the beginning of the 20th century, and waterproof shoes only with the second world war. A nation formerly dirt poor, then staggeringly rich, and now building its way to affluence once again.
A nation where, in the remote and wild places, you might encounter still a shore laddie, a sorcerer or a ghost. From Reykjavík’s renowned Phallological Museum to a house of stones on the eastern coast; from the curious monsters which roam the remote shores of Bíldudalur to a museum of whales which proves impossible to find, here is an enchanted story of obsession, curation, and the peculiar magic of this isolated island.
Iceland: A Literary Guide for Travellers
4.990 kr.A guide to Iceland’s rich literary heritage – from Norse witches to contemporary crime fiction. Iceland is an island of multiple identities in constant flux, just like its unruly, volcanic ground. Shaped as much by storytelling as it is by tectonic activity, Iceland’s literary heritage is one of Europe’s richest – and most ancient.
Iceland: A Literary Guide for Travellers takes the literary-minded traveller (either in person or in an armchair) on a vivid and illuminating journey. It follows Iceland’s many stories that have been passed down through the generations: told and retold by sheep farmers, psalm-writers, travelling reverends, independence fighters, scholars and hedonists. From the captivating Norse myths, which continue to inspire contemporary authors such as A. S. Byatt, to gripping Scandinavian crime fiction and Game of Thrones, via Jules Verne and J. R. R. Tolkien, W. H. Auden and Seamus Heaney, Iceland’s influence has spread far beyond its frozen shores. Peopled by Norse maidens and witches, elves and outlaws, and taking the reader and traveller from Reykjavik and the Bay of Smokes to the remote Westfjords and desolate highlands, this is an enthralling portrait of the Land of Ice and Fire.
Meet the Elves
3.690 kr.Those who travel around Iceland with an open mind will have a colourful and enjoyable journey ahead of them. With a bit of luck (and GPS navigation) travelers might even encounter an elf – almost no Icelandic farm is without stories of elfdwellings located somewhere on the property.
This book contains a collection of stories and sources that shed light on the relationship between humans and elves in Iceland, from ancient to relatively recent times.
Eat Frozen Shit!
3.890 kr.Look no further! The book you’re currently holding is the only Icelandic phrasebook you’ll ever actually need. Eat Frozen Shit is not just a handy guide to “colorful language”, it is so much more!
Included in this book:
* A practical no-bullshit guide to everyday words and phrases!
* Filthy curse words!
* Funny sex phrases!
* Essential party vernacular!
* Cool slang!
* Uncool grandparents’ slang!
* Hilarious illustrations!
* A bunch of useless information!
* And more!Impress your friends and family by learning to curse in one of the oldest languages in the world. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
The Sagas and Shit
3.490 kr.The sagas may seem old and boring af but the real talk is that they also have assloads of the same sex, violence, comedy, and timeless lessons that fill our brains and TV screens today.
This book retells the most famous masterpieces of Icelandic literature alongside some of the weird¬est, most fucked-up sagas and skips straight to the good shit.
Loaded with vulgarity, slang, and pop culture, this modern take on the sagas will either have you shaking with laughter or shaking your head in dis¬taste. Or both, whatever.
Illustrated by Elín Elísabet Einarsdóttir.
The Galdrabók – Forbidden Icelandic Folk Magic
4.990 kr.„Write these letters on white vellum with your blood.“
Once forbidden by the church on penalty of severe punishment and even death, Iceland’s occult symbols have been subject to a remarkable transformation over the past few decades: They can now commonly be seen used as tattoos, in media such as video games, and even as components of business logos. Most books containing these symbols, known as grimoires, were confiscated and destroyed. However, a small number survived, most famously the Galdrabók. In this new and approachable edition of the Galdrabók, folklorist Kári Pálsson presents his original English translation and an edition of the grimoire’s original Icelandic text beside another grimoire never before published: the unique and quite mysterious Jarðskinna manuscript.
Here is Iceland!
4.590 kr.Every spring, over fifty species of migratory birds come to Iceland and lay their eggs in the mild and bright Arctic summer. In the winter snow covers the ground and Northern Lights light up the sky. In Here is Iceland you can read all about this volcanic island: its birds and mammals, mountains and shores, hot springs and geysers, people and culture – through spring, summer, fall and winter.
Here is Iceland! by Margrét Tryggvadóttir and Linda Ólafsdóttir was welcomed by Icelandic readers of all ages. The book was nominated for the Icelandic Literary Award and received the Women’s Literary Award, the Reykjavík City Literary Award for illustrations, and the award of the Association of Icelandic Graphic Designers.