Halldór Laxness was born on 23 April 1902 in Reykjavík. An Icelandic novelist, Laxness was the most important Icelandic writer of the twentieth century. His novels, including Salka Valka, Independent People, The Fish Can Sing and Iceland's Bell, combine social realism, humor and an epic sense of the country's history, and depict the harsh lives of farmers and fishermen. He traveled widely, converted briefly to Catholicism, and was sympathetic to socialism. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955, the only Icelander to win it. His house in Mosfellsdalur is now a museum.
Before and after
- 8 January 1902Birth of Georgy Malenkov
- 27 February 1902Birth of John Steinbeck
- March 1902Publication of What Is to Be Done?
- 6 March 1902Founding of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
- 23 April 1902Birth of Halldór Laxness
- 3 May 1902Birth of Alfred Kastler
- 23 July 1902Discovery of 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup
- 28 July 1902Birth of Karl Popper
- 8 August 1902Birth of Paul Dirac
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1792Publication of La Marseillaise
- 5 May 1821Founding of The Guardian
- 7 May 1824Beethoven's Ninth Symphony premieres
- 7 April 1837Publication of The Little Mermaid
- c. 1860sImpressionism
- 19 March 1882Construction of Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.