Sjón Livres

The novel that put Sjon on the international map, now published by Sceptre in a stunning new package.

Set against a backdrop of societal upheaval, this narrative follows a young man navigating life on the margins during a pivotal historical moment. Sjón blends realism with emotional depth, crafting a heartfelt tale that captures the essence of a world in turmoil. This work stands out as a poignant exploration of identity and belonging in a time of chaos, showcasing the author’s signature style while remaining accessible to readers.

Sjón's prose is never histrionic or overwrought, balancing rage and hallucination . . . with a gentleness of spirit, an affection for precision and the small scale. The result is sure to delight his fans and convert many new ones. Hari Kunzru Guardian

Winner of the Icelandic Literary Prize 'An extraordinary and original writer' A.S. Byatt on Sj�n The year is 1918 and in Iceland the erupting volcano Katla can be seen colouring the sky night and day from the streets of Reykjavik. Yet life in the small capital carries on as usual, despite the natural disaster, a shortage of coal and, in the outside world, the Great War grinding on. There, sixteen-year-old M�ni Steinn lives for the new fashion - the movies. Asleep he dreams altered versions of them, their tapestry of events threaded with strands from his own life. Awake he hovers on the fringes of society. But then the Spanish flu epidemic comes ashore, killing hundreds and driving thousands into their sick beds. The shadows of existence deepen and for M�ni everything changes. Capturing Iceland at a moment of profound transformation, this is the story of a misfit in a place where life and death, reality and imagination, secrets and revelations jostle for dominance. With not a word wasted, this mesmerising and original novel is the work of a major international writer.

'A masterpiece ... I challenge any author to top it!' Sigridur Alberstsdottir, Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. Josef Loewe enters the world as a lump of clay - carried in a hatbox by his Jewish father Leo, a fugitive in WWII Germany. Taking refuge in a small-town guesthouse, Leo discovers a kindred spirit in the young woman who nurses him back to health and together they shape the clay into a baby. But en route to safety in Iceland, he is robbed of the ring needed to bring the child to life. It is not until 1962 that Josef can be 'born', only to grow up with a rare disease. Fifty-three years on, it leads him into the hands of a power-hungry Icelandic geneticist, just when science and politics are threatening to lead us all down a dark, dangerous road. At once playful and profoundly serious, this remarkable novel melds multiple genres into a unique whole: a mind-bending read and a biting, timely attack on nationalism

The highly-acclaimed novel by Iceland's internationally renowned writer Sjon - 'an extraordinary and original writer' A.S. Byatt - in a stunning new package.

"An extraordinary, powerful fable--a marvel."--Alberto Manguel "Sj�n writes like a man under a spell, filled with enchantment and magic and great wit. He is a rogue of the first order."--Keith Donohue The year is 1949 and Valdimar Haraldsson, an eccentric Icelander with elevated ideas about the influence of fish consumption on Nordic civilization, has had the singular good fortune to be invited to join a Danish merchant ship on its way to the Black Sea. Among the crew is the mythical hero Caeneus, disguised as the second mate. Every evening after dinner he entrances his fellow travelers with the tale of how he sailed with the fabled vessel, the Argo, on the Argonauts' quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Sj�n is a celebrated poet, novelist, and songwriter. His novels have been translated into twenty-five languages, and include From the Mouth of the Whale and The Blue Fox (both Telegram Books). In 2005 Sj�n won the Nordic Council Literary Prize, the equivalent of the Man Booker Prize, for The Blue Fox and Best Icelandic Novel for The Whispering Muse. Sj�n has written lyrics for Bj�rk, including for her most recent musical project, Biophilia. He lives in Reykjavik, Iceland. Victoria Cribb lived in Iceland for many years. She now lives in England, where she is completing a PhD in Old Icelandic literature at the University of Cambridge. Her translations include three novels in collaboration with Olaf Olafsson.

Gunnar Kampen grows up in Iceland during the Second World War in a household fiercely opposed to Hitler and Nazism. At nineteen he seems set for a conventional, dutiful life. And yet in the spring of 1958, he founds a covert, anti-Semitic nationalist party, a cause that will take him on a clandestine mission to England from which he never returns. Inspired by one of the ringleaders of a little-known neo-Nazi group that was formed in Iceland in the 1950s, Sjon's portrait of an ardent fascist is as thought-provoking as it is disturbing. As this taut and fascinating novel suggests, the seeds of extremism can be hard to detect - and the ideology of the far-right remains dangerously potent.

The best fiction from across the Nordic region, selected and introduced by Sjon - Iceland's internationally renowned writer. This exquisite anthology collects together the very best fiction from across the Nordic region. Travelling from cosmopolitan Stockholm to the remote Faroe Islands, and from Denmark to Greenland, this unique and compelling volume displays the thrilling diversity of writing from these northern nations. Selected and introduced by Sjon, The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat includes both notable authors and exciting new discoveries. As well as an essential selection of the best contemporary storytelling from the Nordic countries, it's also a fascinating portrait of contemporary life across the region. The perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's evening.

Sjón gehörte von 1980 bis 1986 der der surrealistischen, Performance-orientierten Lyrikergruppe „Medúsa“ an. Auch in diesem Band schafft der Dichter surreale Bilder, die aber den Blick in eine große Tiefe lenken und von Wärme durchdrungen sind.