In an interview that appeared in Morgunbladid (11 March 2000) Þórarinn Eldjárn described himself as "ritidjumadur" (a craftsman of the written word); he has proven his skill in a wide variety of literary genres--including humorous short stories; epigrams; poems in elaborate meters and free verse; children's books; plays and songs for musicals; texts for songs in a wide range of musical styles; essays reflecting a broad base of learning and interest; and deeply researched historical novels. Across all these forms of expression he shows the same idiosyncratic voice, fluid command of language, playfulness, inventiveness, and confidence in integrating Icelandic culture with world culture, and uniting folklore and learned traditions with contemporary issues and perspectives. Þórarinn's writings are clever, erudite, irreverent, warmly ironic, tightly written, and always lively.

Þórarinn Kristjánsson Eldjárn was born in Reykjavík on 22 August...