Studia Islandica - 01.06.1970, Page 111

ENGLISH SUMMARY
The works of Guðmundur Kamhan may be diyided roughly into four
groups, according to subject and aim.
First come the romantic products of his early years: Hadda Padda
(1914; translated into English) and Kongeglimen (- wrestling hefore
the king — 1915). Next, satirical works such as Marmor (- marble -
1918), Ragnar Finnsson (1922), Orkenens Stjerner (- stars above the
wildemess - 1925), and Sendiherrann frá Júpiter (- the ambassador
from Jupiter - 1927). At the same time Kamban was writing works
dealing with marital problems: De arabiske Telte (- the arabian tents -
1921) and Det sovende Hus (- the sleeping House - 1925). These last
two categories are combined in the play Vi Mordere (- Vie Murderers -
1920; translated into English). Finally there are the historical novels
Skálholt I-IV (1930-32; the first two volumes translated into English
under the title The Virgin of Skalholt and adapted as a play in 1934),
and Jeg ser et stort skant Land (- I see a Wondrous Country - 1936;
translated into English). Outside this grouping and in a class by itself
is the novel 30. Generation (1933), which deals with contemporary Ice-
land and the need for outside cultural influences - a subject which con-
cemed Kamban deeply and one to which he repeatedly turns in articles
and interviews. Then there are the works of his last years: the plays
Grandezza and Iiomplekser (both 1941), and De tusind Mil (1969). He
also published a collection of essays, Kvalitetsmennesket (— the man of
quality — 1941), and of translated poems, Hvide Falke (- white fal-
cons - 1944).
As indicated by its title, the present study deals only with Kamban’s
early and satirical works, which exist in both Danish and Icelandic ver-
sions by him, apart from the play 0rkenens Stjerner, which is in
Danish only.
At the start an attempt is made to establish Kamban’s place among
Icelandic writers, with a discussion of the four who emigrated to Den-
mark at the beginning of this century; the other three being Jóhann
Sigurjónsson, who was the pioneer, Gunnar Gunnarsson, and Jónas Guð-
laugsson, who died young. The emigration of writers is a notable pheno-