Vilhjalmsson, Thor

(1925-)

   An Icelandic novelist and essayist, Vilhjalmsson is recognized as one of Iceland's most innovative writers. After travel and studies abroad, including stays in England and France, he became a librarian at the National Library in Reykjavik. Vilhjalmsson's first book was a collection of short prose entitled Madurinn er alltaf einn (1950; Man Is Always Alone). It was followed by the short story collections Dagar mannsins (1954; The Days of Man) and Andlit i spegli dropans (1957; tr. Faces Reflected in a Drop, 1966), which deal with existential themes. Several travel books and collections of essays came next, and then came the important first novel Fljott fljott sagdi fuglinn (1968; tr. Quick Quick Said the Bird, 1987), which is set in Italy and deals with alienation. It was followed by Op bjollunnar (1970; The Cry of the Beetle) and ManasigS (1976; Moonsickle).

   After several more novels and essay collections, Vilhjalmsson published his most important book, Gramosinn gloir (1986; tr. Justice Undone, 1995), for which he received the Nordic Literary Prize in 1988. Drawing on an actual criminal case, it is a narrative in which it is difficult to determine where reality ends and pure fantasy takes over. Vilhjalmsson has also written additional essays as well as two volumes of autobiography. The novel Nattvig (1989; Night Killing) is a crime story that take place in Reykjavik's underworld, while Tvilysi: Myndir a syningu (1994; Twilight: Pictures at an Exhibition) deals with such central themes as love and death. The novel Morgunpula i straum (1998; A Morning Rhyme in the Grass) has a medieval setting and recounts a pilgrimage to Rome.