Iceland’s literary culture has long been defined by a great tradition of storytelling, but recently, the tide has turned. A new wave of immigrant voices has emerged, from poetry and fiction to memoir and more. Non-native writers are successfully exploring themes of identity, belonging and cultural fusion. They are also adding multinational layers to Iceland’s rich literary landscape. But Iceland, of all places — why?
Reykjavík: A Hub for Foreign-Born Writers
Specifically, the capital city of Reykjavík is a hub for foreign-born writers. Yet, how is it that writers from overseas are calling home a place that is largely overlooked on the global literary scale?
For one thing, Reykjavík’s literary scene may be small compared to others, but it is welcoming, making it easy for writers to connect and collaborate.
As a nation, Iceland has a renowned literary heritage, and writing is a popular pastime.
Despite being a very homogeneous population, it is interesting to find that international writers are embraced, with plenty of opportunities to take part in readings, workshops and creative collaborations. A couple of non-native writers were asked what brought them to Iceland, and while their stories differed, they shared common threads — a deep fascination with the country, happenstance and a sense of community that fuels creativity.
The Role of RVK Poetics in Fostering Literary Diversity
One significant thread that ties these writers together is the budding institution known as RVK Poetics.
A poetry collective and literary initiative based in Reykjavík, it was founded by writer and Polish-born immigrant Ewa Marcinek. The collective focuses on celebrating and promoting poetry while fostering a creative environment where both local and international writers of all literary genres can share their work. RVK Poetics organizes readings, workshops, open mics and an incredibly special event was attended in commemoration of their one-year anniversary in June 2024.
A Literary Evening at Mengi
The reading was hosted in the intimate and preeminent venue, Mengi — a place that, from the street, looks somewhat like a vacant coffee shop, unassuming and open for lease, but is, in fact, a storied performance space run and operated by Reykjavík artists. There, poet Gabriel Dunsmith was MC of the event.
Originally from North Carolina, U.S.A., Dunsmith has been a part of RVK Poetics practically from the start. The organization is wholly operated and maintained by non-native writers, he explains: “Currently, we have Australia, Poland, Switzerland, the U.S. and Brazil represented on the board.”
Additionally, RVK Poetics plays a vital role in connecting Reykjavík’s vibrant literary scene with global voices.
“I find that I am constantly surrounded by very interesting people, and I can talk to them about any variety of things,” Dunsmith says, adding: “Living here has given me a sense of what it means to invest in a place.”
This encapsulates both his experience with the literary scene and what being part of a community is all about.
Serendipity and the Allure of Iceland
Unbelievably, Dunsmith never planned to settle in Reykjavik. Years ago, he intended to study abroad in Scotland and instead wound up in Iceland.
“It’s been a very mysterious process for me to wind up here,” he says. “It was definitely not on my agenda, but Iceland happened to me more than anything else.”
If Dunsmith’s journey is any indication, it seems a healthy dose of coincidence and serendipity plays a role in attracting foreign-born writers to Iceland. From the chance encounter that sparked his interest in the country to the unexpected connections he made along the way, Iceland draws writers in through happenstance.
Breaking New Ground in Icelandic Literature
For Russian-born Natasha S., who asked to be referred to by her pen name, the Icelandic language was what first captivated her.
“I wasn’t even trying to be a writer,” she says. “I was just a regular Russian person interested in a weird language.”
Natasha S. studied Icelandic in Moscow and Reykjavík for years, but becoming an award-winning Icelandic writer was an unforeseen turn of events.
In many ways, Reykjavík is a city well-designed for writing, offering plenty of cozy cafés, libraries and other writing-friendly spaces.
The Ida Zimsen Café is a popular spot, combining a love of coffee and books in a comfortable setting. The National and Municipal Libraries provide quiet, free-to-use spaces perfect for writing sessions. Writers often gather in bookstores like the legendary Bókabúð Máls og Menningar or Penninn Eymundsson Austurstræti, where Natasha S. once worked.
It was there that she realized Iceland lacked immigrant literature.
“All the books went through me,” she says. “I saw every single book that was published in Iceland for several years, and that’s when it occurred to me — there really was no such thing as foreign-born or immigrant literature in Iceland. So, I thought, why wouldn’t I make such a book?”
I was just a regular Russian person interested in a weird language.
With the help of a colleague who just started their own publishing house, Natasha S. collaborated with other writers to create and edit Pólífónía af erlendum uppruna (Polyphony of Foreign Descent), a popular poetry anthology about the non-native experience in Iceland.
The book’s success helped launched her career, leading to invitations to the Reykjavík International Literary Festival and recognition as the first foreign-born Icelandic writer to win the Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Prize. Her work has since brought significant attention to immigrant voices in Icelandic literature, a path Natasha S. might not have taken anywhere else.
Renowned Writers Drawn to Iceland
Quite a few notable literary figures have expressed deep admiration for Reykjavík and Iceland in general. Two in particular are Canadian poet, essayist and professor Anne Carson, as well as U.S. poet and novelist Ocean Vuong.
Carson spent so much time in Iceland she was granted citizenship in 2018 and publicly mentioned on several occasions that both the literary and natural landscapes profoundly influenced her work.
Last year, Vuong shared an Instagram post reminiscing fondly about time spent at Mokka Kaffi, a coffee shop in Reykjavík where he finished the second draft of The Emperor of Gladness back in 2022.
Reykjavík: A City That Supports Its Writers
What makes Iceland’s capital city so special is that it truly is a capital of culture — a place that provides an incredibly unique environment for both native and foreign-born creatives. Reykjavík is a UNESCO City of Literature, and numerous grants and residencies offer financial support to writers, allowing them to focus solely on their craft in a peaceful, inspiring setting surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.
In fact, if you’re lucky enough, the Icelandic government may even pay you to focus entirely on creative endeavors without needing added employment — check out the Listamannalaun, or Icelandic Artist Salary Fund!
Reykjavík may be small, but that also makes for a tight-knit, well-funded and highly supportive creative community.
