Pedro Gunnlaugur Garcia is an Icelandic writer known for his poignant and introspective works, use of magical realism and exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of intimacy and communication. Pedro is currently translating the novel Jerusalem by Portuguese author Tavares to Icelandic.
Pedro’s first novel Languageless (Málleysingjarnir) from 2019 won him the new voices grant from the Icelandic Literature Center and was well received by readers and reviewers alike. His latest work is the novel Lungs (Lungu) published in 2022. Lungs is a family history of many generations, spanning several countries and hundreds of years. The book was an immediate success and Pedro received the Icelandic Literary Prize for it.
According to the verdict by the award panel, “Lungu is a sweeping family history of many generations from different corners of the world, which plays out in contemporary Iceland, but also stretches far into the future, culminating in a virtual reality where these generations mingle. Here, a new tone is struck in Icelandic fiction writing with a magical narrative that effortlessly and smoothly moves between the deepest emotions and conflicts to adventurous moments of joy with a mythical twist – so that even the greatest tragedies benefit from the joy. Relationships between lovers and generations are broken and damaged, but stories and memories illuminate fateful moments in their lives, showing the reader the very spark of life, and capturing the essence of a long life.“
Events with Pedro Gunnlaugur Garcia
