Hús skaldsins
Hús skaldsins (The Poet’s House) is the third volume in Halldór Laxness’ epic work Ljós Heimsins (World Light) that was published between 1937-1940. The preceding volumes, Ljómur guddómsins (The Revelation of the Deity) and Høll summarlandsins (The Palace of the Summarlands), have already been published in Faroese.
The poor and lonely Ólavur Kárason from Ljósavík is now a grown man and poet. He lives with his girlfriend in a cabin on a hill. She is working at the fish drying grounds, and he is tending to an ailing child.
In the village, the worker’s union, led by Jens the Faroese, is quarreling with the ruling authorities. Despite wanting to remain neutral and focus on his writing, the poet finds himself entangled in the conflict.
Laxness’ monumental work has been translated into many languages and is regarded as one of the most important works of Icelandic fiction.