Eirikur Orn Norddahl

(b.1978) is one of the most prolific and versatile writers in modern Icelandic literature. Lovers of avant-garde poetry, both at home and abroad, know him for his experimental exploring of boundaries with tangible poetry, digital poetry and spoken-word happenings. His books have been published in over a dozen languages. Eirikur made his début with the poetry collection Heilagt stríð - runnið undan rifjum drykkjumanna (Jihad – Initiated by Drinkers) which he published himself in 50 copies in 2001. A year erlier he had published three short stories, each in a booklet. Eirikur’ first novel was published in 2004, titled Hugsjónadruslan (The Ideal Slut). Since then, Eirikur has sent forward more books of poetry, as well as novels. His poetry has also appeared in collections and magazines in Iceland and abroad. Eirikur was awarded The Icelandic Literary Prize and The Icelandic Bookseller’s Prize for his novel Evil, as well as being nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize. When Evil came out in France in 2015 it was shortlisted for the Prix Médicis Étranger, the Prix Meilleur Livre Étranger and received the Transfuge award for Best Nordic Fiction. Eirikur has translated over a dozen books into Icelandic, including a selection of Allen Ginsberg’s poetry and Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn, for which he received the Icelandic Translator’s Prize in 2008. He has also written articles about literature and social issues for newspapers, magazines and radio. Eirikur lives in Isafjördur, Iceland, and spends much of his time in Västerås, Sweden, a town by a lake. norddahl.org