Jónas Hallgrímsson

Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807–1845) was an Icelandic author. He was one of the founding members of the magazine Fjölnir which was first published in 1835. The magazine was used by Hallgrímsson and other nationalistic poets to invoke nationalism in the hearts of the Icelandic people in hope of a rise to independence from the Danes. Jónas Hallgrímsson was one of the most beloved poets of Iceland and put into words some of the most beautiful poems about land and nation. He died in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1845 as a result of blood poisoning he suffered from a broken leg: he refused to go to the hospital and subsequently died.

He is one of the founding fathers of romanticism in Iceland and his poetry shows the influence of his continental inspirations, invoking both the majestic beauty and awesome power of Icelandic nature. He also introduced foreign metres, such as pentameter, to his nation's poetic resources.

    "Charming and fair is the land,
       and snow-white the peaks of the jokuls [glaciers],
    Cloudless and blue is the sky,
       the ocean is shimmering bright,
    But high on the lave fields, where
       still Osar river is flowing
    Down into Almanna gorge,
       Althing no longer is held,
    Now Snorri's booth serves as a sheepfold,
       the ling upon Logberg the sacred
    Is blue with berries every year,
       for children,s and ravens, delight.
    Oh, ye juvenile host
       and full-grown manhood of Iceland!
    Thus is our forefathers' fame
       forgotten and dormant withal."

Iceland translated by Gudmund J. Gislason Beck, Richard, editor, Icelandic Lyrics:Originals and Translations, Thorhallur Bjarnarson, Publisher, Post Box 1001, Reykjavik 1930