Einar Mar Gudmundsson

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

(b.1954) is one of the most widely translated Icelandic authors born in the postwar period. Gudmundsson has received many awards and distinctions for his books, such as the Norwegian Bjørnson Prize, the Scharnberg Memorial Award in Denmark, The Karen Blixen Medal, and The Giuseppe Acerbi Literary Prize in Italy. In 2012 Einar Mar Gudmundsson received the Swedish Academy’s Nordic Prize, dubbed “The Little Nobel”, for his contribution to literature.  

AWARDS

2018 - Priz Littérature-monde, France (Icelandic Kings) 2016 - 21st Century Best Foreign Novels, China (Dog Days) 2016 - Zou Taofen Foreign Novel of the Year 2016 (Dog Days) 2015 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Hundadagar (Dog Days) 2012 - The Swedish Academy's nordic literature prize 2010 - Carl Scharnberg's Memorial Fund 2002 - Icelandic National Service Writer´s Fund 2002 - The Knight´s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon 1999 - The Karen Blixen Award, an honorary award from the Danish Academy 1999 - Giuseppe Acerbi Literary Prize. In the town Castel Goffredo in Italy. 1995 - Nordic Council Literature Prize: Englar alheimsins (Angels of the Universe) 1994 - VISA Cultural Prize 1994 - DV Cultural Prize: Englar alheimsins (Angels of the Universe) 1988 - Bröste´s Optimism Award 1982 - First prize in a literary competition hosted by Almenna Bókafélagið Publishers: Riddarar hringstigans (The Knights of the Spiral Stairs)

NOMINATIONS

2007 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Rimlar hugans (Bars of the Mind) 2004 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Bítlaávarpið (The Beatle Manifesto) 2000 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Draumur á jörðu (Dreams on Earth) 1997 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Fótspor á himnum (Footprints on the Heavens) 1991 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Klettur í hafi (A Rock in the Ocean)
“Gudmundsson is a born storyteller … a masterpiece!”
POLITIKEN, DENMARK (on Dog Days)
“Yet again Einar Mar Gudmundsson demonstrates his outstanding eloquence and joy in narration … While there is grandeur in Gudmundsson’s style, humour always has a secure place too.”
DAGBLADENES BUREAU, DENMARK (on Snapshots)

Books by Einar Mar Gudmundsson

Standalone

Alltfrahattiofanisko_72

From Head to Toe: The Making of a Poet (2025)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2025

211 pages

Fiction
Tvi_daemist_rett_vera kápa

Rightly Judged (2023)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2023

273 pages

Fiction
Skaldleg_afbrotafraedi

Poetic Criminology (2021)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2021

232 pages

Fiction
Til_theirra-Sem_malid_vardar_Kapa.indd

To Whom It May Concern (2019)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2019

96 pages

Poetry
Passamyndir

Snapshots (2017)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2017

279 pages

Fiction
Hundadagar

Dog Days (2015)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2015

342 pages

Fiction
On_the_point_of_erupting

On the Point of Erupting, 2014 (in English)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2014

135 pages

Poetry
nafnlausir

Nameless Roads (2002)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2013

2013 pages

Fiction
islenskir_kongar

Icelandic Kings (2012)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2012

256 pages

Fiction
Bankastraeti_null

Zero, Bank Street (2011)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2011

185 pages

Current Affairs
Non-Fiction
hvíta

The White Book (2009)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2009

Current Affairs
Non-Fiction
eg stytti mer leid

A Short Cut Round Death (2006)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2006

143 pages

Poetry
Bítlaávarpið

The Beatle Manifesto (2004)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2004

253 pages

Fiction
Draumar á jörðu

Dreams on Earth (2000)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

2000

213 pages

Fiction
Fótspor á himnum

Footprints on the Heavens (1997)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

1997

213 pages

Fiction
EnglarAlheimsinsKiljukapa

Angels of the Universe (1993)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

1993

224 pages

Modern Classics
Fiction
eftirmáli

Epilogue of Raindrops (1986)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

1986

Fiction
The_knights_of_the_spiral_stairs_72

The Knights of the Spiral Stairs (1982)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

1983

199 pages

Fiction
vængja

Wingbeat on the Rooftops (1983)

Einar Mar Gudmundsson

1983

Fiction