"A gorgeous little book containing simple, atmospheric, ghostly and supernatural folk tales from an Icelandic storyteller."
This spellbinding little book contains a mix of 25 traditional and new Icelandic Folk Tales. Picture Iceland, and a mesmerising image is released, it’s the land of ice and snow, mountains, volcanoes, northern lights, tradition, sagas, and the perfect place for trolls, elves, and ghosts to reside. Hjorleifur Helgi Stefansson lives on the family farm, and grew up with his grandparents close by, saying: “They were born in the old time, in the old country, and they gave me, in my upbringing, a glimpse of another way of thinking and living. Their focus was on people and tradition”. He spends time in Scotland on the storytelling circuit and states that: “I proudly hold the title ‘Pet Viking’. These are tales that are told in the most simple yet vivid way, it was almost as though I could close my eyes and hear them being told. Folk tales often hold warnings, encourage integrity and morality, and of course contain delightfully scary supernatural elements. These tales have the traditional elements stitched into each page and are accompanied by illustrations by Sandstrom Fahlstrom. I’ve included Icelandic Folk Tales as one of my Liz Picks of the Month, it really would make a fabulous stocking filler for anyone who loves the art of storytelling.
| Primary Genre | Shorter Reads |
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Iceland is a country where stories are as important as history. When Vikings settled the island, they brought their tales with them. Every rock, hot spring and waterfall seems to have its own story. Cruel man-eating trolls rub shoulders with beautiful elves, whose homes are hidden from mortal view. Vengeful ghosts envy the living, seeking to drag lost loves into their graves - or they may simply demand a pinch of your snuff. Some of the stories in this collection are classic Icelandic tales, while others are completely new to English translation. Hjoerleifur has always been deeply interested in the rich lore of his island. His grandparents provided a second home in his upbringing and taught him much about the past through their own way of life. Hjoerleifur is dedicated to breathing fresh life into the stories he loves. He lives on his family farm in Borgarfjoerdur, and also spends a lot of time in Scotland, where he is becoming renowned on the Scottish storytelling circuit.
Icelandic Folk Tales features in the following genres: Shorter Reads, Gift Books, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Fiction: special features, Fiction, Stationery and miscellaneous items, Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure, Recommendations
Icelandic Folk Tales is available in Hardback
Icelandic Folk Tales was written by Hjoerleifur Helgi Stefansson and published by The History Press Ltd
Icelandic Folk Tales has 190 pages
£13.49
