The English Dane by Sarah Bakewell was my main source for Jörgensen’s later life in Tasmania.
A Spotify link to the album Eitt sumar á landinu bláa, from the musical about Jörgensen, performed by the band Þrjú á palli.
An online version of the book Journal of a tour in Iceland in the summer of 1809 by William Jackson Hooker.
Scottish Plans for the Annexation of Iceland by Anna Agnarsdóttir (pdf).
An article in Icelandic by Bragi Þorgrímur Ólafsson on the changing perception of Jörgensen in Iceland through time.
An Icelandic book that includes much of the original source material: Sjálfstæði Íslands 1809.
A thesis project, in Icelandic, outlining a pitch for a television series about Guðrún Einarsdóttir Johnsen.
Icelandic Food and Cookery by Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir (mentioned in the episode) is a great source of information and Icelandic cuisine.
In Vopnafjörður there is a farm called Bustarfell which has long history and is connected to many stories.
As the Icelandic men’s football team starts its first game ever at the World Cup it is fitting to look back in time at the sports of Iceland, from the sagas to the viking clap. Also, did you know that Arsenal saved Icelandic football?
Continue reading “The Icelandic Sport Saga”
A special free video episode at
patreon.com/storiesoficeland.
Ragnar Loðbrók (furry pants) is one of the most famous heroes of Icelandic literature. Today he is more famous as the lead character of the television series Vikings but here is the original story.
Continue reading “Ragnar Furry Pants and the Sagas”
This is a special episode, and a bit shorter than usual, where I read and examine the folktale The Deacon of Dark-River.
Continue reading “The Deacon of Dark-River (Folktale Special)”
Confused about our naming conventions? Listen to this. The patronymic naming system used in Iceland is rather perplexing and we have unusual laws dealing with both first names and last names.
Also, big thanks to André Bernier who interviewed me for his podcast Weatherjazz – episode 79. Continue reading “What’s in an Icelandic Name”
The Age of the Sturlungs was the most violent period in Icelandic history. But it also produced beautiful art. Here I examine the relationship between bishop Guðmundur the Good and the chieftain Kolbeinn Tumason.
Continue reading “Hear, Smith of Heavens”
Iceland has thirteen Yule-Lads, a cat which eats children, strange songs and a long colorful history of celebrating Jól.
Continue reading “Yule – Not Christmas”
A word you hear again and again in Iceland is
þing but what does it really mean and what is its history? We take a journey through the ages of Iceland to figure it out.
This is the story of Reykjavík but also about how Iceland was discovered.
Continue reading “Smoke by the Water”
In the north of Iceland there is valley called Svarfaðardalur. It has long history, beautiful scenery and great stories. From the ghosts of the Sagas to the impoverished children of the early twentieth centuries.
Continue reading “Troublemaker Valley”
