May
20
/ 2016
Iceland’s strong love of literature is a source of amazement to many people. In an era of declining book sales around the world, this small North Atlantic island continues to publish and sell more books per capita than any other nation. A tradition exists in Iceland that every person gets at least one book for Christmas, so Icelandic publishers release the majority of their titles in the few weeks leading up to the festive holiday. This deluge of new books onto the market is colloquially known in Iceland as “the Christmas book flood”. But why this strong literary tradition and love of books? Where does it come from? I am routinely asked that question, and my answer is always the
