After covering Scandinavia, I will venture out west. This next month l will leave the mainland behind and set sail for the Frozen Shores of the north.
Be prepared for sheep, stormy seas and polar bears!
Heading west like a true viking
We will first visit Iceland, and The Faroe Islands. Then continue further north to Greenland. And finally I plan on ending this journey through the north with a stop on Svalbard.
Greenland and The Faroe Islands are not recognized countries, but Danish autonomous territories. Both are places which have their own distinct cultural and literary traditions, and I couldn’t imagine leaving them out. Svalbard is also not a country; it is a Norwegian region, but I find it interesting enough that I want to go there.
(And this is why my project has already grown from the 195 recognized countries …)
I’ve never visited any of these places in person, and I have only read little from here – a Danish book set in Greenland, a British fantasy series heavily featuring Svalbard, and a short stack of Icelandic novels. But I’ve never explored them all together like this, and the Faroe Islands are so far a complete literary mystery to me. I’m excited for this journey.
So, where exactly are we going?
We’re heading out west and way up north to some of the most rugged and remote places of the globe. Let’s take a closer look at what’s waiting for us in each place:
Iceland: Fire, Ice, and Storytelling
Iceland is a land of contrasts, with glaciers and volcanoes side by side. Its literary tradition stretches back to the middle ages with the Icelandic sagas, which are epic tales of Vikings, family feuds, and survival, that are still celebrated today.
Modern Icelandic literature is available in plenty. This I know, because I have already read and very much enjoyed a stack of books from Iceland. It is said that one in ten Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime, and Reykjavík is a UNESCO City of Literature.
See my suggestions for books to read from Iceland here.
Faroe Islands: Where Sheep Outnumber People
The Faroe Islands are a cluster of 18 tiny, green islands in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway. It’s a place of cliffs, wind, and more sheep than people. And too small to even be seen on my fancy world map.
I know absolutely nothing of Faroese literature going in, but I expect I might find stories similar to what I’ve read from Iceland. Wild and windswept and with the strong sense of community that comes from living in small places.
See my suggestions for books to read from Faroe Islands here.
Greenland: Icebergs and Colonisation
Greenland is the world’s largest island, and most of it is covered in ice. I think I’ve only read one book set partly in Greenland before, and I already included that on my list of books from Denmark. But I have never read a book by a native Greenlander. I expect its literature to be rooted in Inuit culture, blending traditional myths with reflections on modern life and the Danish colonisation.
Fun fact: The Greenlandic words can be ridiculously long. For example, “Nalunaarasuartaatilioqatigiiffissualiulersaaleraluallaraminngooq” roughly translates to “They were apparently intending to build a new telegraph company.” This knowledge might come in handy someday, you never know.
Svalbard: Polar Bears and Precious Seeds
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago way up north in the Arctic Circle. It’s a land of polar bears, glaciers, and extreme isolation. While Svalbard doesn’t exactly have a literary tradition – I don’t expect that I’ll be able to find a native author from Svalbard – But I do know that the remote place has inspired many writers.
Maybe we will visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault where duplicates of seeds from around the world are in long term storage. Polar bears outnumber people here, and you are required to carry a rifle when leaving town in case you meet one. Safety first!
A Brief History of the Frozen Shores
This is not meant to be a history lesson, but I research these things myself when I head into a new region, so I might as well share what I learn.
The islands of the North share a fascinating history shaped by their isolation, harsh climates, and connection to the sea. During the Viking Age Iceland became a major settlement for Norse explorers, and the Faroe Islands served as a crucial stop for seafarers. Their windswept cliffs were home to communities of hardy settlers. Greenland, famously “discovered” by Erik the Red, became a Viking outpost, though its harsh conditions made life difficult.
Later, these islands became parts of the kingdom of Denmark, with Iceland gaining independence in 1944, while Greenland and the Faroe islands remain autonomous Danish territories today.
Each place has preserved its unique identity. Iceland’s sagas has kept Viking heritage alive, and the country is famous for its financial crisis recovery and a thriving cultural scene. The small population of the Faroes fiercely protect their language and culture, and the islands are a hotspot for sustainable living and tourism. Greenland blends Inuit traditions with modern life, and faces pressing questions around climate change and its vast resources.
Svalbard, with its polar bears and glaciers, too icy even for the Vikings, remained an uninhabited wilderness for centuries. It was a no-man’s-land of whalers and explorers until formal treaties established Norwegian sovereignty in 1920, and still today it is an untamed Arctic frontier. And like Greenland, Svalbard too is experiencing new challenges due to climate change.
Join me as I explore the Frozen Shores!
Over the next four weeks, I’ll be reading my way through these Nordic Islands. I’ll choose one book from each place to read and review. I’ll also create curated book lists featuring what’s available in English and what catches my interest.
If you have any recommendations from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland or Svalbard let me know in the comments or send me a message. I’d love to hear about your favourites!
Stay tuned for my first book selection from Iceland. And please remember to dress warmly for this part of the journey!
