Vignettes Contemporary Sagas

Ármann Reynisson offers his readers a unique glimpse into Icelandic society both in modern times and the past. His stories cover a wide variety of topics set in the countryside and the towns alike, exploring the country's people, animals and natural wonders.

Mynd
Photographer, Ómar Óskarsson. Morgunblaðið - newspaper

A brief Biography


Ármann Reynisson was born in Reykjavik in 1951. He has played a significant role in cultural and business life in Iceland since he returned from his studies at The London School of Economics in 1982. Always unconventional by choice, Reynisson has usually turned to testing out innovations in the various occupations he has taken up over the years. As a result he is regarded as both untraditional and controversial by his fellow Icelanders. After he completed his education.

Always unconventional by choice, Reynisson has usually turned to testing out innovations in the various occupations he has taken up over the years. As a result he is regarded as both untraditional and controversial by his fellow Icelanders. After he completed his education.

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Critics

"Ármann´s vignettes transport you to a wonderful world of reflection and thought by giving the reader a glimpse into not only Icelandic culture, but also those from many lands. I teach Icelandic and have used some of them in my advanced levels of the language in order for students to appreciate the beauty and writing style that is captured in his vignettes. Looking at the English translations of them, I quickly notice that translators Dr. Martin Regal and Lisa Marie Mahmic M.A. have managed to do justice in retaining the flavor of the original Icelandic, a feat not so easily mastered by many. This calls to mind Seamus Heany’s excellent modern English rendition of Beowulf as he [Heany] manages to do the same with the Old English poem."

Josef V. Fioretta, Professor of Comparative Literature, Languages & Linguistics. Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, U.S.A
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Books

88 Stories Around Iceland

In 88 Stories Around Iceland, Ármann Reynisson offers his readers a unique glimpse into Icelandic society both in modern times and the past. His stories cover a wide variety of topics set in the countryside and the towns alike, exploring the country’s people, animals and natural wonders. The collection also contains stories about the relations between humans and elves, as well as some mildly erotic stories. The order in which the stories appear follows a journey around the country and for the reader’s convenience; there is a map of Iceland on each page pinpointing the exact location where the story takes place. The stories in this collection are especially well suited for reading aloud and are intended to be informative and contemplative.

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88 Stories Around Reykjavík

In 88 Stories Around Reykjavík, Ármann Reynisson offers his readers a unique glimpse into Reykjavík society both in modern times and the past. His stories cover a wide variety of topics af áhugaverðum stöðum og náttúrustemmingum, sérstökum atburðum eins og bankahruninu 2008 og ekki síst  skapandi fólki sem setur sterkan svip á borgina. The collection also contanis stories about gamalgróna veitingarstaði andrúmslofti þeirra og sögu nokkrum listmunabúðum as well as som mildly erotic stories. The stories in this collection are especially well suited for reading aloud and are intended ot be informarive and contemplative.

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West Nordic Vignettes I & II in a giftbox

The West-Nordic vignettes are available as a two-volume show case edition. They comprise forty seven stories from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. In Volume I, each tale is in Icelandic, Faroese, Danish and Inuit while Volume II comprises the tales in Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and English. The substance of the vignettes is varied, ranging … Continued

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Vignettes XXII

Some of the stories in Vignettes XXII are of an autobiographical nature, among them, unpleasant encounters of a few well-known, national figures who have revealed their inner characters to Ármann Reynisson, such as: Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland, Kolbrún Bergþórsdóttir, journalist and literary critic, Gunnar Smári Egilsson, Director of the Socialist Party, Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson, art historian and Heiðrún Eyvindardóttir, Chief Librarian of Árborg, Selfoss Library. There are also some glimpses of interesting contemporaries that the writer has met one way or another along life’s journey. A few stories are connected to the people and the environment of Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla, Eyjafjöll, Fljótshlíð, as well as Skagafjörður, Eyjafjörður and Siglufjörður. All brought beautifully together through the unique style of the author who is both concise yet poetic, realistic and inspirational.  The vignettes are ideal for reading aloud at many an occasion.

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