Gerður Kristný

Gerður Kristný at the Nordic Council Literature Prize 2012

Gerður Kristný (born 1970) is an Icelandic poet; she has also written short stories, novels and books for children.

Life and work

She was born on June 10, 1970 and brought up in Reykjavík. She graduated in French and comparative literature from the University of Iceland in 1992. She is a full-time writer. Gerdur Kristný won the Icelandic Literature Awards 2010 for her book of poetry Blóðhófnir (Bloodhoof) which is based on an ancient Nordic myth, told in the Eddic poem Skírnismál, about the attempt of the Nordic fertility god Freyr to fetch the poet's namesake Gerður Gymisdóttir from her far away home as his bride. Blóðhófnir was nominated to the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2011. Gerdur Kristný has published collections of poetry and short stories, novels, books for children and a biography, for which she received the Icelandic Journalism Award in 2005. Gerður’s play The Dancing at Bessastadir, based on two of her children’s books, premiered in the Icelandic National Theater in Reykjavík in February 2011 and was acclaimed by the public and critics alike. Other awards for her work include The Icelandic Children's Choice Awards in 2003, The Halldór Laxness Literary Award in 2004 and The West-Nordic Children's Literature Award in 2010. Gerður Kristný lives in Reykjavík but travels regularly around the world to present her work, giving readings in places like Kampala, Cox's Bazar, Java, Maastricht and Colgata.

Works in English

External links