Last Updated on December 17, 2024 by Maggie McKneely
Are you planning a trip to the Land of Fire and Ice or just want to learn more? Check out these awesome books about Iceland!
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Best Books About Iceland
Majestic waterfalls around every corner. Massive, glistening glaciers that pour down the sides of mountains. Jagged rock formations and frigid black sand beaches. Iceland’s otherworldly geography has captivated explorers for generations. It’s no wonder that this island in the north Atlantic has inspired scores of authors as well.
From fictional crime stories inspired by Iceland’s often dark and moody weather, books detailing it little-known and misunderstood history, and memoirs from those who call this nation home, this list of books about Iceland has something for everyone. Dive into one (or all!) of them before making your own journey to the Land of Fire and Ice.
Table of Contents
Non-Fiction
Rick Steve’s Iceland Guidebook
I would never plan a trip to Europe without devouring one of Rick Steves’ country-specific guides. Why? Because Rick’s guides are the most comprehensive on the market and are the absolute best guidebooks for traveling Europe! With his help, I’m able to plan epic trips.
Rick Steves Iceland guidebook covers just about everything you need to know before traveling to the Land of Fire and Ice. What’s between the covers? All the best information on experiences, from whale watching to waterfalls, the black sand beaches, popular routes like the Golden Circle and the Ring Road, and practical information about money, food, and where to sleep in Iceland. Rick works with local guides to offer readers the best insider tips too, and even throws in interesting tidbits relating to local history, politics, and culture.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Iceland, pick up Rick’s guide and read it front to back – it’s one of the most helpful books about Iceland when planning your trip.
Recommended by: Angie from We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland
If you are looking for one of the most interesting nonfiction books about Iceland, then you should read Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland. This books takes you on the journey of a novelist that dreamed of one day moving to Iceland. She was fascinated by the country and wanted to live there. She explored her options and found an opportunity to apply for a university in Reykjavik. Despite having two children, she realized her dream of finally living in the land of Fire and Ice.
Sarah Moss was drawn to the Icelandic landscapes, such as the boiling mud, fissures, and volcanic craters. As she explores her new home, she takes the reader along with her as she watches the northern lights and migratory birds. This fascinating memoir teaches you about when the best time to visit Iceland is, what you can see there, and what local cuisines to try.
This is an excellent book to learn about Iceland through the eyes of a foreigner who decided to call this otherworldly island nation home.
Recommended by: Ossama from Awesome Traveler
The Little Book of the Hidden People
Myths and legends always appear on lists of essential wanderlust reads as they help readers understand the values, beliefs, and history of a society, while also enabling travelers to connect with the local way of life on a deeper level.
The Little Book of the Hidden People is one of the most concise but entertaining books about Icelandic folklore, offering a glimpse into one of the country’s most enchanting and mysterious cultural traditions. The tales of the “hidden people” – Icelandic elves – immerse readers in local stories passed down through generations, illustrating the Icelanders’ enduring belief in these otherworldly beings. Since there has been much debate over the fact that some Icelanders still believe in elves, author Alda Sigmundsdottir shares her own insights on the topic, while clearly distinguishing between modern beliefs and common legends.
The book is a quick and easy read, but its fascinating tales certainly deepen one’s understanding of Icelandic culture and its profound connection to nature.
As you drive around Iceland, witnessing the turquoise waterfalls, volcanic rocks, rolling green hills, and dramatic cliffs, you might start to believe in those legends yourself. With such otherworldly landscapes, even the most mind-blowing local myths seem less surreal.
Recommended by: Anna from At Lifestyle Crossroads
How Iceland Changed the World
No one really thinks of Iceland as a particularly consequential nation – it’s a small island located in the north Atlantic whose claim to fame is constantly surviving volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It’s never been a world power, it’s the birthplace of very few famous people, and its traditional cuisine is questionable. Its easy to write Iceland off as unimportant in the annals of world history.
But in How Iceland Changed the World, readers learn about significant moments when this windswept island changed the course of history. Such as the 1783 Laki eruption that effected the entire world’s climate, or the fact that an Icelandic nannie inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. It even played a pivotal role in sending astronauts to the moon.
This easy to read compilation of fun, little-known facts about Iceland’s history is thoroughly enjoyable and will give you a new appreciation for Iceland and its people. It was one of my favorite books about Iceland that I read before visiting that incredible country.
Recommended by: Me! (Maggie from Pink Caddy Travelogue)
Fiction
The Fish Can Sing
The Fish Can Sing is one of the most beloved novels by Iceland’s best-known fiction writer and 1955 Nobel Prize winner, Halldór Laxness.
Set in an isolated fishing village outside of Reykjavik, orphan Alfgrimur spends his days under his adoptive grandparents’ cottage, dreaming of becoming a fisherman. But when he crosses paths with Gadar Holm, the famous son of the village who became a renown opera singer, his simple life changes. The opera singer is praised for his international reputation all over Iceland, yet no one there has ever heard him sing.
Failing to utter a note for Iceland’s countrymen, mysterious and elusive Holm strikes an unlikely friendship with Alfgrimur and takes interest in his budding musical talent after he taught himself melodies and songs. Slowly, Holm becomes Alfgrimur’s hero, yet he realizes that the singer isn’t who he seems to be and finds he learns more lessons through their interactions than he realizes in the search for the “one true note.”
The Fish Can Sing is an excellent book on Iceland for any traveler as it dives into traditions and customs that shaped the nation, traverses Iceland’s rugged landscapes, and explores the country’s rich literary heritage.
Recommended by: Aaren from What do You Sea
Burial Rites
Burial Rites is a work of historical fiction based on a true story. It was written by Hannah Kent, an Australian who spent a year in Iceland as an exchange student. While there, she learned the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir. In 1830, Agnes was the last person to be executed in Iceland. To write the book, Kent returned to Iceland and did historical research to piece together the events and learn about what Iceland was like at the time of Agnes’ trial.
While Kent takes some artistic liberties, the main contours of Agnes’ story in the book are true. She really was accused of the brutal murder of two men, one of whom was her former master. She really was eventually found guily and sentenced to execution. And in both the novel and in real life, she was sent to live with a family while she awaited her execution.
The book provides a sense of what Iceland was like at the time – including family life, the justice system, social class structure, and the general culture. Kent captures how unforgiving and isolating living in Iceland could be during this period.
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is an evocative tale that wrestles with questions about truth and justice. It’s one of the most gripping fiction books about Iceland!
Recommended by: Stephanie at Just Book the Flight
The Sagas of the Icelanders
Iceland is a striking Nordic island country that has gifted the world with dramatic landscapes defined by volcanos and glaciers as well as skies painted with dancing northern lights. But most important is Iceland’s Viking history. What better way to understand this than reading a book, The Sagas of the Icelanders, before visiting Iceland?
This collection of fictional accounts of real events will give you a glimpse into the turbulent era when the Vikings first set foot in Iceland. Over the course of 200 years, the Vikings shaped the land, made it habitable, and explored this wild island. Today, The Sagas of the Icelanders introduces readers to Norse culture. The stories come with explanatory notes and maps, making it easier for non-Icelanders to understand the context and dive deep into the Viking age.
This well-assembled collection of medieval literature is a one of the greatest books about Iceland to understand Viking ship types, geological tables, and social and political structure. It’ll certainly inspire you to plan your Iceland itinerary soon.
Recommended by: Lavina from Continent Hop
Inspector Erlendur Series
I stumbled upon the Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason just before my trip to Iceland, almost like the universe was hinting at what was to come. I mean, what better way to prepare for a vacation than with a series of crime books about Iceland that match the dark, brooding mood of the landscape I was about to explore? Arnaldur’s novels feature Detective Erlendur, the archetypal troubled detective – gloomy, anti-social, and temperamental. The books are translations, so the language is often simplistic, but the stories are charming and intriguing.
Start with Jar City and you’ll be hooked. The books is about a lonely old man who is found murdered in his Reykjavik flat. The only clues are a cryptic note left by the killer and a photograph of a young girl’s grave. Inspector Erlendur, who heads the investigation team, discovers that many years ago, the victim was accused of an unsolved crime.
Through the story’s pages, I walked Reykjavik’s streets long before setting foot on them. Just make sure you have a blanket nearby as you are reading – you’ll feel that Icelandic chill from page one.
Recommended by: Smita from Smita Bhattacharya
Have you read any of these books about Iceland? Are there any books about Iceland I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
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You’ll feel the Icelandic chill from the first page, so make sure you have a blanket close by while you read.
Thanks for compiling this list!
Though I’ve traveled to Iceland before, I haven’t read most of the books on the list. The Inspector series looks quite appealing.
I love this post. I will seek out a couple of these. I’ve been to Iceland but hope to go again, and it’s always fun to have the stories!
I love reading books, fictional or not, set in or about my next destination. It’s a great way to start the journey, learn and appreciate the place a lot more once there. Just did that with Egypt and my experience there are so much better and profound.
I’ve been to Iceland before, but I haven’t read the majority of the books on the list. The series featuring Inspector seems rather attractive.
I absolutely loved Burial Rites! Hannah Kent’s writing is so atmospheric, I could almost feel the cold Icelandic wind while reading. The way she brings Agnes’s story to life is both haunting and deeply human. It’s fascinating how she balances historical detail with emotional depth. Definitely one of the most powerful books I’ve read set in Iceland!