This tiny country of 360,000 souls, far up in the North Atlantic, has one of the most amazing literary cultures in the world more books published and read here per capita than anywhere else. How did it come to that? What within Iceland creates a haven for both writers and readers?
This can be attributed to the land of fire and ice’s history, geography, education system, and government. Iceland has maintained a diverse literary tradition right from the writing of the sagas and eddas back in the 13th century, which retained the history and mythology of Nordic people. These very stories are still read and celebrated today as forming part of the national identity and cultural heritage of Iceland.
Also, the isolation and strong climate of Iceland induced in its people a sense of community and ingenuity. The long winters began to be passed by reading and writing as a way of escaping the rigors of life in a land so remote and rough. Books are cherished and given as gifts the bulk of publishers releasing new titles during Christmas.
More importantly, Iceland also sustains a high literacy rate of 99 percent and supports an education system that is very strong and emphasizes early reading and writing skills. Literature exposure begins at kindergarten and continues to university, with children being consistently asked to express themselves through various forms of writing. As a matter of fact, a lot of Icelanders write either as a hobby or second career from using pseudonyms just to avoid the attention that comes along with writing to writing as poets, press persons, and fiction writers.
Along with this, the Government of Iceland provides for a state-supported scheme of subsidies to the literature sector, which includes money for grants and awards, tax breaks for authors and publishers, and translation subsidies. In simple words, the stronghold of this subsidy system sets up a mighty, abundant, and qualitatively differentiated literary life in which the work of every writer can be freely experimented with different genres and styles, addressing a much larger audience both inside and outside the country.
The literary culture in Iceland is pride, but it is also a way to attract tourists to display the culture of this nation to the world. A number of Reykjavik International Literary Festivals, Icelandic Literature Prizes, and Nordic Literature Prizes just happen to take place in Iceland on a yearly basis. It’s also home to a brand-new museum on its literature heritage the Saga Museum which holds original manuscripts, illustrations, and items associated with the Sagas and Eddas.
Iceland is in first love with books and stories; it has been the host to some of the most startling writers and works of literature across the globe. Here’s a country that can say, ‘Size does not matter when it comes to creativity and passion.’ It is just really deserving to be called the world’s greatest literary nation.
Relevant articles:
– Iceland, as a literary muse, BBC, August 27， 2014
– Iceland Has The Most Writers Per Capita. Why This Matters Globally，peacefuldumpling.com， December 13, 2021
– On the Rise of the Icelandic Saga as Written Literature， Literary Hub， August 9, 2021