The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days

The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days
Author :
Publisher : Little Books Publishing
Total Pages : 170
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781970125160
ISBN-13 : 1970125160
Rating : 4/5 (60 Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days by : Alda Sigmundsdóttir

Download or read book The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days written by Alda Sigmundsdóttir and published by Little Books Publishing. This book was released on 2022-01-21 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Iceland in centuries past was a formidable place to live. Situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the edge of the inhabitable world, the nation was both isolated and abjectly poor. Centuries of colonization translated into oppression and subjugation from the colonial overlords, and a hostile climate and repeated natural disasters meant that mere survival was a challenge to even the hardiest of souls. In these 50 miniature essays, Alda Sigmundsdottir writes about the Icelanders in centuries past in a light and humorous way, yet never without admiration and respect for the resilience and strength they showed in coping with conditions of adversity that are barely imaginable today. Their ways of interacting with the natural world are described, as are their sometimes tragic, sometimes ingenious, means of dealing with maltreatment and injustice from the church and other rulers. These forms of oppression include a trade monopoly imposed by Denmark that lasted nearly two centuries, a ban on dancing that lasted for a similar length of time, the forced dissolution of households when the breadwinner of the family died, the tyranny of merchants granted exclusive right to trade with the Icelanders, and the dreaded decrees of the Grand Judgement—a court of law that was set up to punish various offenses, real or imagined. Yet it is not only the “big picture” that is described in this book, but also the various smaller aspects that shed light on the daily life of the Icelanders of old. These include their ingenious ways of coping with lack, of preserving food, of finding shelter, of creating or admitting light into their homes, as well as the innumerable and sometimes wacky superstitions attached to various life events, big and small. The hilarious customs of hospitality and visiting are also described, as are some of the sexual activates of Icelanders in the past, their belief in elves and hidden people, sexual interactions with hidden people (!), ways of dealing with grief, interactions with foreigners, and much, much more. Today’s Iceland is a modern, cosmopolitan place, with one of the highest standards of living in the world. Yet less than a century ago, this paragon of equality and peace was the poorest society in Europe. The conditions of life described in this book are therefore not very distant from the Icelanders today, and many of the aspects described are still very much reflected in Iceland’s unique culture. In short, The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days is not only a funny, witty, and wise exposé on the Icelanders’ daily life in the past, it is also essential to understanding the Icelandic national character today. Among the fascinating subjects broached in The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days: • How Icelanders' housing developed from stately longhouses to tiny turf farms • The kvöldvaka: how Icelanders managed to live through the long, dark winters • Social structure among the common folk (farmers to vagabonds) • All the superstitions: how folks attempted to gain control over their lives • The elf belief deconstructed: why did those tales of hidden people develop? • No time to be a kid (being a child was tough in the Iceland of old) • Sex and the church (yep, Icelandic ecclesiastical authorities also meddled in people's sex lives) • Precious, precious food. How do you live on the edge of the inhabitable world, where hardly anything grows? • Welcoming guests: smooching and other etiquettes • Foreigners in Iceland. Think Iceland had no visitors back then? Think again! ... and so much more!


The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days Related Books

The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days
Language: en
Pages: 170
Authors: Alda Sigmundsdóttir
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-01-21 - Publisher: Little Books Publishing

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Iceland in centuries past was a formidable place to live. Situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the edge of the inhabitable world, the nation was both isolat
The Little Book of the Icelanders
Language: en
Pages: 144
Authors: Alda Sigmundsdóttir
Categories: Social Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-01-21 - Publisher: Little Books Publishing

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

After more than 20 years away, Alda Sigmundsdottir returned to her native Iceland as a foreigner. With a native person's insight yet an outsider's perspective,
The Little Book of Icelandic
Language: en
Pages: 156
Authors: Alda Sigmundsdottir
Categories: Travel
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-01-21 - Publisher: Little Books Publishing

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Icelandic is one of the oldest and most complex languages in the world. In this book, Alda Sigmundsdóttir looks at the Icelandic language with wit and humor, a
The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland
Language: en
Pages: 194
Authors: Alda Sigmundsdóttir
Categories: Travel
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-01-21 - Publisher: Little Books Publishing

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Iceland is in the midst of an unprecedented tourist boom that has brought wealth to the country, but also myriad issues and challenges. Through a series of shor
Icelanders in the Viking Age
Language: en
Pages: 285
Authors: William R. Short
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2010-03-15 - Publisher: McFarland

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Sagas of Icelanders are enduring stories from Viking-age Iceland filled with love and romance, battles and feuds, tragedy and comedy. Yet these tales are li