Reading for the Road: A Few of Our Favourite Books About Iceland

Orsolya Kako

Europe | Iceland

At The Slow Road, we answer to many names (wanderers, bon vivants, students of life) but first and foremost, we’re a group of dedicated travellers.

That’s why we love compiling reading lists that include those books—from novels to memoirs, and everything in between—that have really opened up our favourite regions.

In this post, we’ll round up a few of our favourite books about Iceland, a land where the lava fields, glacial valleys and ancient lore never fail to captivate.

Must-Read Books about Iceland

Independent People

By Halldor Laxness

Rich in local colour, this great mock-epic by the Icelandic Nobel Prize-winner features the indelible Bjartur of Summerhouses, a hard-headed, independent-minded sheep farmer. The book has been called a “funny, clever, sardonic and brilliant” masterpiece.

Learn more on Amazon >>

Ring of Seasons: Iceland—Its Culture and History

By Terry G. Lacy

A long-time resident of Reykjavík, Lacy weaves tales of family life, anecdote, lore and history into this illuminating personal portrait of Iceland.

Learn more on Amazon >>

Song of the Vikings, Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths

By Nancy Marie Brown

Brown brings to life not just the great Norse tales of medieval Iceland but also the life and times of the worldly Icelandic chieftain, known as the “Homer of the North.”

Learn more on Amazon >>

Letters from Iceland

By W.H. Auden and Louis MacNeice

This quirky, under-appreciated masterpiece captures the spirit of Iceland, its people and landscapes.

Learn more on Amazon >>

Orsolya Kako

Trip Designer Orsolya Kako plans experiential and in-depth excursions to locales as varied as Japan, Morocco and Iceland from her home base in Toronto. Her name gets butchered a lot, but she’ll usually respond to “Ursula.”