Gestur Pálsson

Katelin Parsons (Árna Magnússon Foundation for Icelandic Studies)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

Born 25 Sep 1852
Died 19 Aug 1891

Places

Active in Iceland

Activities

Primary

Writer / Author

Resources

Pálsson's Works

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Gestur Pálsson (25 September 1852 – 19 August 1891) was an Icelandic author, journalist, and newspaper editor, best known for his literary realism and themes of social injustice. His short stories and novellas are peopled by underdogs who remain as lowly and oppressed at the end of the narrative as they were at its outset. Although Gestur Pálsson’s writings reject the possibility of hard work or love triumphing over social inequality, his cynicism is balanced by his sympathetic portrayal of misfits and outsiders, who retain their humanity in spite of the cruelty shown them. His work is also notable for depicting urban life in Reykjavík at a time when Icelandic writers overwhelmingly fixed their gaze on rural communities.

Gestur Pálsson was born in the Westfjords of Iceland, on the

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2423 words

Citation: Parsons, Katelin. "Gestur Pálsson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 31 March 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14865, accessed 21 November 2024.]