Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People : An Anthology of Icelandic Folk Legends

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Author: Jonsdottir, Dagrun Osk IcelandPublished on 1 May 2025 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.Hardback | 248 pages, 23 illustrations215 x 165 x 30 | 534g This unique and en chanting book opens the door to a captivating world of Icelandic folk legends unfolding across six chapters, each based on a different setting: farm, wilderness, darkness, church, ocean and shore. The anthology provides translated tales from the 19th and 20th centuries, many in English for the first time as well as introductions by the author which place these often-supernatural happenings in the context of Icelandic society. The legends include tales of hidden people, trolls, ghosts, sea monsters and even polar bears, exploring themes of love, revenge and conflict. The book highlights the tension between Christianity and heathen beliefs, past and present, nature and humanity, and divides within society. Drawing from a wide variety of Icelandic sources, the book makes these colourful, entertaining, lively stories available to non-Icelandic speakers, some for the first time. Show more