Reykjavik International Literary Festival showcases global authors

From April 19-23, 2003, the 16th bi-annual Reykjavík International Literary Festival transformed Iceland’s capital city into a global hub of books, storytelling, literature, and ideas. A celebration of literature and storytelling, this year’s festival focused on issues of freedom of expression and human rights. This premiere literary event attracts readers and authors from around the world and offers visitors an opportunity to engage with some of the world’s most celebrated authors.

The 2023 festival featured a diverse lineup of renowned writers from all over the world, including two-time Pulitzer Prize winning American novelist Colson Whitehead. Other featured authors include bestselling Scottish women’s fiction novelist Jenny Colgan and Norwegian nonfiction author Åsne Seierstad, who uses the power of storytelling to shed light on everyday life in war zones and other pressing global issues.

Two prizes are also connected to the Reykjavík International Literary Festival. President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson will award an honorary prize – called Orðstír – to two Icelandic translators working to translate Icelandic text into other languages. The festival also awards the Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize, a 15,000 euro prize that recognizes outstanding contributions from internationally recognized authors who contribute to a renewal of the narrative tradition.