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íslenska

Þorsteinn frá Hamri

Bio

Þorsteinn (Jónsson) frá Hamri (from Hamar) was born on March 15, 1938 on the farm Hamar in Þverárhlíð in Borgarfjörður. He completed his primary education at Reykholtsskóli in 1954 and studied at Iceland’s Teacher Training College during the years of 1955-1957. Þorsteinn worked as an assistant librarian at Kópavogur Library between 1961-1967, but since then devoted his time to writing. He has also scripted radio programs, read proofs, and translated a number of books.

Þorsteinn was the secretary of the board of The Icelandic Writer’s Associsation from 1966-1968 and a vice member of the board of The Writer’s Union of Iceland 1984-1986. He was also a member of the board of The Writer’s Union of Iceland from 1986-1988. In 2006 Þorsteinn was made a honorary member of the union.

Þorsteinn’s first book of poetry, Í svörtum kufli (In a black cowl), was published in 1958. Þorsteinn was a prolific poet who also wrote novels and essays. His first novel, Himinbjargarsaga eða Skógardraumur, ævintýri (The Story of Himinbjörg or A Dream in the Wood, a fairy tale), appeared in 1969. He was also a productive translator of literature, translating a great many children's books, among other things. His last book of poetry was published in 2016, entitled Núna (Now).

Þorsteinn vas a celebrated author, receiving among others the Icelandic Literature Prize in 1992, the Icelandic Knight‘s Cross of the Order of the Falcon for his contribution to Icelandic literature in 1996, the Honorary Artist‘s Salary from Alþingi in 2001 and the Jónas Hallgrímsson Award in 2009.

Þorsteinn frá Hamri died in his home in Reykjavík on Sunday January 28th 2018.

Author photo: Skapti Hallgrímsson.