Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl · Books & reviews
Novels and poetry by Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl, with selected reviews and information for publishers.
Recent books For publishers ↗
Published in more than 12 languages
Winner of the Icelandic Literary Prize
Twice nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize
On The Natural Laws
“This is literatureMikaela Blomqvist Göteborgs-Posten · 2025 ↗
at its best.”
The original Icelandic editionA novel set in Ísafjörður in 1925.
During a gathering of the clergy in Ísafjörður, a bishop’s attempt to challenge superstition is followed by a series of unexplained events.
The novel follows priests, townspeople and scientists over seven incredible days, bringing questions of faith and scientific explanation into their everyday lives. And then God shows up.
Nordic Council Literature Prize 2025
Icelandic Literary Prize 2023
English sample translation and synopsis available.
“Not reading The Natural Laws would be a mistake.”
“Undoubtedly Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl’s best novel to date.”
“A book that positively sparkles with the joy of storytelling and wonderful humour.”
“Wildly entertaining.”
An eighth collection of poetry.
Five Poems is a book of poems tracing patterns of routine, longing and repetition.
In the toilet bowl I'm leaving a thick severed sausage
that I found in the fridge
as if to remind myself of something I have forgotten
about suffering in metaphors.
Maístjarnan poetry prize 2026
“A layered, polyphonic collection of poems, at once direct and mystical.”Maístjarnan jury Nomination citation · 2026 ↗Enquire about Five Poems ↗
A satire about authorship and public life.
A writer named Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl takes a teaching job, receives an anonymous threat and finds his public life coming apart. His retreat into fiction leads to a country where punishment takes the form of thrown bricks.
The novel considers public disgrace, artistic responsibility and forgiveness, using a fictional version of its author as the central character.
“Brilliantly clever and wickedly funny.”Egill Helgason Kiljan · Icelandic National Television ↗More about Earnest ↗
A novel connecting a contemporary love story with fascism, the Holocaust and the relationship between personal and collective history.
“The emergence of a very, very great writer.”Olivier Mony Livres Hebdo · France ↗
Intimacy, surveillance and literary vanity in a society where being watched has become a way of life.
Prix Transfuge for Best Nordic Novel 2017
“Few other writers offer this blend of tragedy and comedy, or such narrative agility.”Macha Séry Le Monde · France ↗
Other work
A co-founder of the poetry collective Nýhil, Norðdahl works across novels, poetry, translation and performance. His translations include Allen Ginsberg, Jonathan Lethem and Athena Farrokhzad.
Icelandic Translation Prize
Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn
ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival · Special mention
Watch Höpöhöpö Böks ↗
For publishers & editors
For reading material, translation rights and current territory availability, contact Reykjavík Literary Agency.
An English sample and synopsis of The Natural Laws are available. Please enquire about material for other titles.
Request reading materialReykjavík Literary Agency ↗ rla@rla.is
Review excerpts are presented in English translation where necessary, and have been shortened for this page. The attribution beneath each quotation links to the review or a publisher’s reproduction. The Nordic Council quotation uses its published English wording; the Maístjarnan quotation is translated from the jury’s Icelandic citation.
Awards and publication information: Reykjavík Literary Agency, Nordic Council, Writers’ Union of Iceland and Métailié. “Five Poems” is an English rendering of Fimm ljóð.
Author photographs © Ágúst G. Atlason.
