Icelandic Folk Tales

Iceland is a country where stories are as important as history. When Vikings settled the island, they brought their tales with them. Every rock, hot spring and waterfall seems to have its own story. Cruel man-eating trolls rub shoulders with beautiful elves, whose homes are hidden from mortal view. Vengeful ghosts envy the living, seeking to drag lost loves into their graves - or they may simply demand a pinch of your snuff. Some of the stories in this collection are classic Icelandic tales, while others are completely new to English translation. Hjörleifur has always been deeply interested in the rich lore of his island. His grandparents provided a second home in his upbringing and taught him much about the past through their own way of life. Hjörleifur is dedicated to breathing fresh life into the stories he loves.

Professional storyteller, musician, innkeeper, farmer, builder/carpenter, cook, guide, Hjörleifur Stefánsson is Icelandic through and through. From Borgarnes, about 60km north of Reykjavik, on the west side of the island, and with a father from the east side, he has stories from all over the island. he didn't learn stories from a book; he was served stories of old Iceland along with his porridge for years, his grandparents being storytellers by nature. A burgeoning storytelling talent from the far North, last year he wowed audiences at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. He divides his time between Iceland and Scotland.