Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.10.2016, Page 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • October 15 2016
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.LH-INC.CA
It was a cool September evening as we waited in the dark for my dealer to arrive.
Sitting on a stone bench, in sight
of the old city jail, it was an
unlikely place for a clandestine
meeting. However, I needed
one more fix before leaving
Reykjavík the next morning, so
my brother Chuck and I waited
on the street, looking this way
and that, as the city’s nightlife
swarmed around us.
It had been only ten or
fifteen minutes since he’d called
me on my cell phone while I
was at a bookstore. “I have what
you were looking for,” he said.
I responded in hushed tones,
not wanting to draw attention
to myself or disturb the other
bookstore patrons. I’ve been
buying stuff from this dealer
– let’s call him Rúnar, since
that’s his name – for several
years now and the quality of
his merchandise has always
been good, while the price has
always been reasonable. I don’t
haggle or ask questions about
his suppliers.
“Wait outside,” he said. “I’ll
be there in ten minutes.”
Sure enough, Rúnar soon
arrived in his SUV. The door
swung open and he said, “get
in.” Chuck and I slid into the
vehicle. Rúnar sped off down
Skólavörðustígur, veered onto
Bankastræti past a crowd of
pedestrians, turned right onto
Lækjargata and then doubled
back on Hverfisgata before turn-
ing sharply onto Ingolfsstræti,
where he pulled his vehicle
onto the sidewalk, turned off
the headlights, and parked in the
shadows. If anyone had been
trying to follow us, I was sure
we had shaken them off through
this series of maneuvers.
There in the shadow of the
Ministry of Education, where
the staff had long since gone
home for the day, we conducted
business. Rúnar handed me
a small bag. “Here it is,” he
murmured.
I reached into the bag and
pulled out a slim volume,
opening it to the title page: Saga
Natans Ketilssonar og Skáld-
Rósu by Brynjólfur Jónsson.
Yes, this was what I was looking
for. Published in 1912, it offers
an account of the life of Natan
Ketilsson, including his affair
with the poet Vatnsenda-Rósa
and his murder, which led to the
execution of Friðrik Sigurðsson
and Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the
subject of Hannah Kent’s
novel Burial Rites. This copy
has handwritten notes in the
margins, providing genealogical
data and additional information,
as well as two newspaper
clippings and a typewritten note.
I became aware of this book
when Ambassador Hjálmar W.
Hannesson showed me a copy
that had belonged to his father.
Thumbing through its pages, I
knew I wanted a copy of my own
so that I could better understand
the historical backstory of
Kent’s popular novel while
learning more about Vatnsenda-
Rósa, the spirited and inspiring
poet whose verses are familiar
to lovers of Icelandic folk music.
So I turned to Rúnar
Sigurður Birgisson, who
operates Bókabankinn (The
Book Bank) at Kolaportið,
Reykjavík’s indoor flea market.
He playfully describes himself
as the bankastjóri, or bank
manager, knowing that the
wealth contained in the used
books he sells far exceeds the
wealth found in any financial
institution. I first met him when
he visited Winnipeg several
years ago and I now stop by
his bookstall whenever I’m
in Iceland. Indeed, it’s always
one of my first stops. This year,
I could barely keep my eyes
open when I ambled down to
Kolaportið on the day of my
arrival. Beyond being my dealer
– my book dealer, if that’s not
yet clear – he has become my
friend.
Rúnar is a first-rate sleuth
in tracking down obscure,
out-of-print, long forgotten
volumes. He has helped me
find countless books for my
collection. His bibliographic
knowledge is immense, his
cultural and historical awareness
immeasurable, and his memory
for what his individual
customers are looking for is
crystal clear. So I invariably
leave his shop with more than I
expected.
There’s one book he hasn’t
yet found for me: a slim volume
by my third-great-grandfather,
Jón Þorláksson Kjærnested.
Stuttur Leiðarvísir til Garðyrkju
(A Short Guide to Gardening),
published in 1824, was the
first book on horticulture in the
Icelandic language. I covet it for
my library. So I’m still waiting
for my dealer. If it’s anywhere
to be found, I’m sure he’ll find
it. But I doubt that picking it up
will be half as dramatic as our
late-night rendezvous on the
streets of Reykjavík.
Lögberg-
Heimskringla
Published 24 times a year by
Lögberg-Heimskringla, Incorporated
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Lögberg stofnað 14. janúar 1888
Sameinuð 1959
508-283 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B5
Phone: (204) 284-5686
Toll free: 1-866-564-2374
Fax: (204) 284-7099
www.lh-inc.ca
lh@lh-inc.ca
Office Hours:
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. - Fri.
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Audrey Juve Kwasnica
(204) 927-5645 • audrey@lh-inc.ca
EDITOR
Stefan Jonasson
(204) 927-5642 • stefan@lh-inc.ca
PRODUCTION MANAGER /
LAYOUT and DESIGN EDITOR
Catherine McConnell
(204) 927-5644 • catherine@lh-inc.ca
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE /
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Jodi Dunlop
(204) 927-5643 • jodi@lh-inc.ca
VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Linda Hammersley and Alicyn Goodman
PRINTING: The Winnipeg Sun
Commercial Print Division
PM No. 40012014
The L-H gratefully acknowledges
the financial support of the Government of
Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of
the Department of Canadian Heritage
L-H gratefully acknowledges the generous
support of the Government of Iceland.
Please return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to:
508-283 Portage Ave., Wpg, MB R3B 2B5
Archived issues spanning 1886-2005
may be viewed at www.timarit.is
SUBSCRIPTIONS
SUBSCRIPTION: 24 issues/year
Canada: $60
USA: $60 US
International: $70 US
L-H online is free to all print subscribers
Online only: $45 CAD, payable in advance
DONATIONS
All donations to
Lögberg-Heimskringla Inc. are
tax-deductible under Canadian laws
Charitable Reg. # 10337 3635 RR001
Business # 10337 3635 RT 0001
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
First 200 words and a picture
are free of charge
over 200 and pic $25.00
300 words and pic $50.00
400 words and pic $75.00
500 words and pic $100.00
750 word maximum and pic $150.00
Send to catherine@lh-inc.ca
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: J. Peter Johnson
TREASURER: Dan Snidal
SECRETARY: Alicyn Goodman
BOARD MEMBERS
Gunnvör Daniélsdóttir
Asmundsson
Shawn Bjornsson
Claire Eckley
Bruce Eyford
Margaret Kernested
Erna Pomrenke
Robbie Rousseau
Oskar Sigvaldason
CANADA
Karen Botting Winnipeg MB
Joel Friðfinnsson Geysir MB
Stuart Houston Saskatoon SK
Signý McInnis Arborg MB
Paul Park Ottawa ON
USA
Shirley J. Olgeirson Bismarck ND
Rob Olason Bellingham WA
Steingrimur Steinolfson Bloomington MN
ICELAND
Kent Björnsson Reykjavík Ísland
Julie Summers Reykjavík Ísland
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Stefan's Saga
Stefan Jonasson
Editor
WAITING FOR MY DEALER
L-H DEADLINES
EDITORIAL SUBMISSION
DEADLINES FOR
NOVEMBER 15, ISSUE 22
Monday October 17
FINAL EDITORIAL DEADLINE –
BREAKING NEWS ONLY
Monday October 31
Please advise the editor in advance if you are
sending a submission for the final deadline
FINAL ADVERTISING DEADLINE
Monday October 31
EDITORIAL SUBMISSION
DEADLINES FOR
DECEMBER 1, ISSUE 23
Monday October 31
FINAL EDITORIAL DEADLINE –
BREAKING NEWS ONLY
Monday November 14
Please advise the editor in advance if you are
sending a submission for the final deadline
FINAL ADVERTISING DEADLINE
Monday October 14
GOVERNMENT OF ICELAND
SCHOLARSHIP
North American students of modern Icelandic, with at least one year university,
are invited to apply for a scholarship to study Icelandic as a second language at
the University of Iceland in Reykjavik for 2017-18 term.
The scholarship covers registration fees and a monthly stipend of ISK 130,000
(approx. $1,000 CDN/mo.) from Sept/2017 to April/2018. A dorm room will be available to rent.
Canadian students must submit application
by November 16, 2016 to:
Detailed criteria and application form available at:
www.inlna.org
(under Scholarships – Iceland, Ministry of Education)
*** US Students must apply through U.S.I.A. Fulbright in New York, NY
Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA)
103 – 94 1st Ave., Gimli, MB Canada ROC 1B1
(Email: inl@mymts.net Phone: 204-642-5897)

Dear Editor,
In reference to the article
entitled “Memories of the
Settlement” by Guttormur J.
Guttormsson, published in the
August 1st and 15th editions,
I believe the ‘unknown
translator’ was my father, Peter
Guttormsson, MD (1899-1995).
The article in English was
found among his memoirs. His
typewriter had been adapted to
include the Icelandic alphabet. I
sent the original copy to Robert
Asgeirsson for the Icelandic
Archives of BC.
My father was born on
the homestead, Viðivellir,
on Icelandic River. His first
language was Icelandic. All of
his education was in English.
Thank you.
Norma Guttormsson
Maple Ridge, BC
Letter to the Editor
Rúnar Sigurður Birgisson operates Bókabankinn (The Book
Bank), a used bookshop at Kolaportið, Reykjavík’s indoor
flea market. Sometimes he makes late night deliveries.