Óttar M. Norðfjörð Explained
Óttar Martin Norðfjörð (born 1980) is an Icelandic writer, both of crime fiction and poetry. He has a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Iceland. His first novel, Barnagælur, was published in 2005. His crime novels have been translated into Dutch, German and Spanish.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Biography
Óttar was born in Reykjavík, growing up in Norðurmýri, the son of the architects Sverrir Norðfjörð (17 June 1941 – 17 June 2008) and his Czech-born wife Alena Friðrikka Anderlova (b. 21 January 1945).[7] A chess competitor at junior school,[8] he proceeded to study at Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð, and graduated in spring 2000 with a specialism in the hard sciences.[9] He proceeded to take an MA in philosophy at the University of Iceland, presenting a final dissertation on the philosophy of the Old Norse poem Hávamál[10] He has continually studied visual arts, which has influenced his work,[11] and in 2004 he held an exhibition of his paintings at Gallari Tukt.[12]
Óttar's biography Hannes: nóttin er blá, mamma was for many weeks at the top of the Eymundsson best-seller list and was among Iceland's best-selling books of 2006.[13] In 2007, his novel Hnífur Abrahams was the 15th best-selling book in Iceland.[14]
Óttar is married to Elo Vazquez. They have collaborated on some projects, including cartoons which appeared in the Reykjavík Grapevine,[15] and directing a music video for the Spanish band I Am Dive in 2013.[16]
Political and social activism
Óttar has defined himself as a politically orientated artist. He was a candidate for the party Nýtt Afl in the Icelandic parliamentary election, 2003.[17] He has been an active campaigner for Torfusamtökin, an organisation seeking to preserve Reykjavík's architectural heritage. Óttar organised a campaign to prevent houses on Laugavegur from demolition.[18] Óttar was one of various authors who were noted for their participation in the 2008-9 Kitchenware Revolution.[19] In summer 2013, Óttar protested against an incident of police violence, in which a woman was knocked over against a bench in the street and in which the police commented that the positioning of the bench had been "unfortunate",[20] by circulating a photograph of himself sitting on the bench holding a sign saying "This bench is unfortunate".[21]
Works
Norðfjörð's main works include:
Poetry
- Grillveður í október (Barbeque-Weather in October) (Nýhil, 2004)
- Sirkus (Circus) (Nýhil, 2005)
- A-Ö (Nýhil, 2006)
Cartoons and satires
- Jón Ásgeir & afmælisveislan (Jón Ásgeir and the Birthday Party) (Sögur, 2007)
- Tíu litlir bankastrákar (Ten Little Banker-boys) (Sögur, 2008)
- Snillingurinn: Ævisaga Hannesar Hólmsteinars ([n. pub.], [2009])
- Íslenskir kapítalistar: 1918-1998 ([Óttar Martin Norðfjörð], [2011])
Literary novels
Crime novels and thrillers
- Hnífur Abrahams (Abraham’s Dagger) (Sögur, 2007) [translated into Dutch]
- Sólkross (Sun Cross) (Sögur, 2008) [translated into Spanish and German]
- Áttablaðarósin (The Eight Pointed Rose) (Sögur, 2010)
- Una (Una) (Sögur, 2012)
- Blóð hraustra manna (The Blood of Brave People) (Vaka-Helgafell, 2013)
Biography
- Arkitektinn með alpahúfuna: Ævisaga Sverris Norðfjörð (The Architect with the Beret: The Life of Sverrir Norðfjörð) (Nýhil, 2010)
- Teflt fyrir augað: 12 bestu skákir Sverris Norðfjörð, ed. by Óttar M. Norðfjörð (Sögur, 2010)
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Leading NY Hill Site on the Net . nyhil.org . 2012-10-19 . 2012-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329114447/http://nyhil.org/m/ . dead .
- Web site: Barnagælur – kilja « Forlagið – vefverslun . Forlagid.is . 2012-10-19.
- Web site: Íslensk skáldverk - Sögur útgáfa . Sogurutgafa.is . 2012-10-19 . 2011-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111224135843/http://sogurutgafa.is/islensk-skaldverk.html . dead .
- Web site: Authors | Icelandic Literature | Fabulous Iceland | Sögueyjan Ísland . Sagenhaftes-island.is . 1980-01-29 . 2012-10-19.
- Web site: Óttar M. Norðfjörð . Ottarnordfjord.com . 2012-08-25 . 2012-10-19.
- Web site: Sögur útgáfa . Sogurutgafa.is . 2012-10-19.
- Sverrir Norðfjörð: minning. http://www.mbl.is/greinasafn/grein/1225091/.
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=127374&pageId=1829249 „Karpov, Kamsky og Adams jafnir“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=132922&pageId=1969102 „158 brautskráðir frá MH“
- Óttar Martin Norðfjörð, 'Heimspeki Hávamála' (unpublished MA thesis, University of Iceland, 2003).
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=121502&pageId=1668746 „Læra mest á því að skoða“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=264002&pageId=3713904 „Listopnanir“
- http://www.mbl.is/greinasafn/grein/1144414/ „Nýhil gefur mæðrum bókargróða“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=3623486 Metsölulisti
- http://grapevine.is/author/ottar-nordfjord/ Höfundarsíða Óttars hjá Reykjavík Grapevine
- http://www.visir.is/myndband-ottars-nordfjord-spilad-a-mtv/article/2013702129977 „Myndband Óttars Norðfjörð spilað á MTV“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=263625&pageId=3702133 „Auglýsing landskjörstjórnar“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=286080&pageId=4178111 „Húsavinir blása til sóknar“
- http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?issId=278834&pageId=4020022 „Skáld í fremstu röð“
- http://www.visir.is/daemdur-fyrir-harkalegu-handtokuna/article/2013131209354 „Dæmdur fyrir harkalegu handtökuna“
- 'þessi bekkur er óheppilegur; „Þessi bekkur er óheppilegur“, Vísir, 11. júlí 2013.