The Icelandic Literary Prize (Icelandic

Icelandic language

Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...

:Íslensku bókmenntaverðlaunin), or Icelandic Literary Award, is an award which is given to two books each year by the Icelandic Publishers Association. The prize was founded on the association's centennial in 1989. One award is for fiction

Fiction

Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...

 or poetry

Poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...

 and the other for academic and non-fiction

Non-fiction

Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...

 works. Five books are nominated in each category, and the year's nominations are publicized in the beginning of December, but the prize itself is not awarded until January. Because the year's nominations come in the middle of the Christmas book flood

Jólabókaflóð

The jólabókaflóð is the annual flood of new books in Iceland occurring in the months before christmas every year...

, these books receive a great deal of marketing. Once the books have been nominated, the Icelandic Publishers Association appoints a selection committee which chooses the winners.

List of winners of the Icelandic Literary Prize for fiction

Year	Winner	Title (English)	Title (Icelandic)	Notes
1989	Stefán Hörður Grímsson Stefán Hörður Grímsson Stefán Hörður Grímsson was an Icelandic modernist, one of the so-called Atom Poets. His first book of poetry came out in 1946, but he gained attention for his second book of poems in 1951; he published a third book of poetry in 1970.-External links:*...		Yfir heiðan morgun: ljóð '87-'89
1990	Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir Fríða Áslaug Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic novelist and short story writer. She made her literary debut in 1980, with the collection of short stories, Þetta er ekki alvarlegt...	Through the Night	Meðan nóttin líður
1991	Guðbergur Bergsson Guðbergur Bergsson Guðbergur Bergsson is an Icelandic writer born in Grindavík on 16 October 1932. He went to the University of Iceland for his Teaching degree and then went for further study in literature at the University of Barcelona. He is one of the leading translators of Spanish works in Iceland.His first book...	The Swan The Swan (novel) The Swan is a novel written by the Icelandic writer, Guðbergur Bergsson in 1991.-Plot introduction:The story is about a nine-year-old girl sent to a country farm in Iceland to serve her probation for shoplifting...	Svanurinn
1992	Þorsteinn frá Hamri Þorsteinn frá Hamri Þorsteinn frá Hamri , is an Icelandic writer notable for having been nominated four times for the Nordic Council's Literature Prize over a period of two decades.-Writings:...	The Sleeping Sailor	Sæfarinn sofandi
1993	Hannes Pétursson		Eldhylur
1994	Vigdís Grímsdóttir Vigdís Grímsdóttir Vigdís Grímsdóttir is an Icelandic writer born on August 15, 1953. She received her B.A. at the University of Iceland. She has written poetry, short stories, plays, and a children's book. One of her novels became the basis for a Swedish film...		Grandavegur 7
1995	Steinunn Sigurðardóttir Steinunn Sigurðardóttir Steinunn Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic author.She finished her university studies in 1972 with a BA in psychology and philosophy at University College Dublin. Since then, she has worked as a journalist for radio and television. She has lived in different places in Europe, the United States and...	Heart Place	Hjartastaður
1996	Böðvar Guðmundsson Böðvar Guðmundsson Böðvar Guðmundsson is an Icelandic writer born January 9, 1939. He is known for plays, poetry, novels, and children's books. He is said to be best known for the novels Híbýli vindanna and Lífsins tré He has done numerous translations of writers such as Roald Dahl and Heinrich Böll...	Tree of Life	Lífsins tré
1997	Guðbergur Bergsson Guðbergur Bergsson Guðbergur Bergsson is an Icelandic writer born in Grindavík on 16 October 1932. He went to the University of Iceland for his Teaching degree and then went for further study in literature at the University of Barcelona. He is one of the leading translators of Spanish works in Iceland.His first book...		Faðir og móðir og dulmagn bernskunnar: skáldævisaga
1998	Thor Vilhjálmsson Thor Vilhjálmsson Thor Vilhjálmsson was an Icelandic writer. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Over the course of his life Vilhjálmsson wrote novels, plays and poetry and also did translations...		Morgunþula í stráum
1999	Andri Snær Magnason Andri Snær Magnason Andri Snær Magnason is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories, essays and CD's. His work has been published or performed in more than 16 countries...	The Story of the Blue Planet	Sagan af bláa hnettinum
2000	Gyrðir Elíasson Gyrðir Elíasson Gyrðir Elíasson is a leading author in Iceland. He was born in Reykjavík Iceland on the 4th of april in 1961, but was raised in Sauðarkrókur, a small town in the northern part of the country. He has written ten volumes of poetry and five books of prose. His style is called "highly personal" among...		Gula húsið
2001	Hallgrímur Helgason Hallgrímur Helgason Hallgrímur Helgason is an Icelandic painter, novelist, translator, and columnist.-Biography:Hallgrímur studied at the Art Academy of Iceland, and then the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich....	The Author of Iceland	Höfundur Íslands
2002	Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir is an Icelandic poet and translator. She lived in Cuba from 1970 to 1975 and also lived in the U.S.S.R. for a time. She has had six books of poetry published. In translations she is most known for her work translating Russian and Spanish works. She was born in Reykjavík and...		Hvar sem ég verð
2003	Ólafur Gunnarsson		Öxin og jörðin
2004	Auður Jónsdóttir Auður Jónsdóttir Audur Jonsdottir was born in Reykjavik in 1973. She is an Icelandic author, playwright and freelance journalist.Her debut novel, Stjórnlaus Lukka , was nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize in 1998...	The People in the Basement	Fólkið í kjallaranum
2005	Jón Kalman Stefánsson Jón Kalman Stefánsson Jón Kalman Stefánsson is an Icelandic author.-Biography:Jón Kalman was born in Reykjavík. He grew up there and in Keflavík. From 1975 to 1982, he lived in western Iceland, where he worked in different jobs after having finished high school.From 1986 to 1991, he studied literature at the...	Summer Light and Then Comes the Night	Sumarljós og svo kemur nóttin
2006	Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 26, 1962. He studied physics as a Wien Scholar at Brandeis University. He is the author of three previous novels, The Journey Home, Absolution and Walking Into the Night, and a story collection, Valentines. His books have been...		Aldingarðurinn
2007	Sigurður Pálsson		Minnisbók
2008	Einar Kárason Einar Kárason Einar Kárason is an Icelandic writer. He has been a full-time writer since 1978. He started his career with poetry in literary magazines from 1978 to 1980. In 1981 he published his first novel. He is best known for Devil's Island, which was translated into English...		Ofsi
2009	Guðmundur Óskarsson		Bankster
2010	Gerdur Kristný	Bloodhoof	Blódhófnir

• Primary source: Íslensku bókmenntaverðlaunin (In Icelandic)

List of winners of the Icelandic Literary Prize for academic works

Year	Winner	Title (English)	Title (Icelandic)	Notes
1993	Jón G. Friðjónsson		Mergur málsins : íslensk orðatiltæki: uppruni, saga og notkun
1994	Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir		Skáldið sem sólin kyssti : ævisaga Guðmundar Böðvarssonar
1995	Þór Whitehead Þór Whitehead Þór Whitehead is an Icelandic historian. He is currently a professor at the University of Iceland.Whitehead has written extensively on the history of Iceland during World War II and the Cold War. His best known work is the multi-volume series "Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld"...		Milli vonar og ótta
1996	Þorsteinn Gylfason Þorsteinn Gylfason Þorsteinn Gylfason was an Icelandic philosopher, translator, musician, poet, art enthusiast and intellectual. Þorsteinn was born and raised in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. His parents were Guðrún Vilmundardóttir and Gylfi Þ. Gíslason, a university professor and government minister...	Thinking in Icelandic	Að hugsa á íslensku
1997	Guðjón Friðriksson		Einar Benediktsson
1998	Hörður Ágústsson		Íslensk byggingararfleifð I: ágrip af húsagerðarsögu 1750-1940
1999	Páll Valsson		Jónas Hallgrímsson
2000	Guðmundur Páll Ólafsson		Hálendið í náttúru Íslands
2001	Sigríður Dúna Kristmundsdóttir		Björg
2002	Páll Hersteinsson, Pétur M. Jónasson		Þingvallavatn
2003	Guðjón Friðriksson		Jón Sigurðsson, ævisaga II
2004	Halldór Guðmundsson Halldór Guðmundsson Halldór Guðmundsson is an Icelandic author. He was also chairman of the publishing company Mál og menning and its successor after the merger with JPV, Forlagið.His biography of Halldór Laxness was awarded the Icelandic Literary Prize...		Halldór Laxness–ævisaga
2005	Kristín B. Guðnadóttir, Gylfi Gíslason, Arthur Danto Arthur Danto Arthur Coleman Danto Arthur Coleman Danto Arthur Coleman Danto (born January 1, 1924 is an American art critic, and professor of philosophy. He is best known as the influential, long-time art critic for The Nation and for his work in philosophical aesthetics and philosophy of history, though he... , Matthías Johannessen, Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir		Kjarval
2006	Andri Snær Magnason Andri Snær Magnason Andri Snær Magnason is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories, essays and CD's. His work has been published or performed in more than 16 countries...	Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation	Draumalandið - sjálfshjálparbók handa hræddri þjóð
2007	Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson		Ljóðhús. Þættir um skáldskap Sigfúsar Daðasonar
2008	Þorvaldur Kristinsson		Lárus Pálsson leikari
2009	Helgi Björnsson		Jöklar á Íslandi
2010	Helgi Hallgrímsson	The Mushroom Book	Sveppabókin

External links

• List of nominees and winners, Icelandic Booksellers Association