Studia Islandica - 01.07.1982, Blaðsíða 180

SUMMARY
This dissertation focuses on three novels by Gunnar Gunnarsson
(1889-1973) that appeared from 1915 to 1920: Ströndin (The Shore of
Life), Vargur í véum (Wolf in Sacred Places) and Sœlir eru einfaldir
(Blessed Are the Simple-Minded; Engl. transl. Seven Days’ Darkness).
Referred to here as the Crisis Stories, these works constitute a distinct
stage in Gunnarsson’s literary career. Other writings of his are dis-
cussed or cited to support the main lines of interpretation and to pro-
vide background information.
The novels in question were written in Danish and first published in
Denmark, where the author resided for a long time. They must be
taken into account, however, in any study of the development of modem
Icelandic literature - and this chiefly for two reasons. For one thing,
Gunnarsson was moulded by Icelandic traditions; while the horizon in
his fiction knows no boundaries, it consistently addresses native realities.
Secondly, Icelandic translations of his works appeared in the wake of
the original editions.
Gunnarsson made a name for himself intemationally with these
novels, which were soon translated into numerous languages. The
intellectual climate at the time gave appeal to his books; after all, they
dealt with actual problems that were relevant to common experiences
in the years around 1920. His works were timely for people living in
a world of disorientation and insecurity.
The Crisis Stories are modem fiction, typical literary products of the
20th century. In them, Gunnarsson probes the deadly perils facing
humanity, forcefully portraying individuals who stmggle to come to
terms with their lives. His main preoccupation is existence itself, along
with the search for solutions to problems touching every person living
then or today. He deals with basic questions: What is the meaning of
life? Is there any purpose to the course of events? And he dissects issues
that have left a strong mark on 20th-century literature: the emphasis
on intellect at the expense of feelings, the sense of the absurd, aliena-
tion, loss of faith in God, self-deception, human limitations and death.