Svava Jakobsdóttir

Ásta K. Benediktsdóttir (University of Iceland)

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 4 Oct 1930
Died 21 Feb 2004

Places

Born in Iceland
Active in Iceland

Cultural Identities

Feminist

Activities

Primary

Writer / Author

Resources

Jakobsdóttir's Works

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Svava Jakobsdóttir was one of the pioneers of literary modernism in Iceland. She was a journalist, parliamentarian, prolific writer, and playwright known for her distinctive use of fantastic realism and satire to explore social and feminist themes. Her short stories, plays, and novels often critique societal structures and explore themes such as the oppression of women, consumerism, and the impact of modernity on traditional life.

Svava was born in Neskaupstaður, a small town on the east coast of Iceland. During her childhood, she spent a few years in Saskatchewan, Canada, where her father served as the pastor of the Icelandic-Canadian congregation. Svava completed secondary school in Reykjavík in 1949 and went abroad to study literature. She earned a BA degree in English and American

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1178 words

Citation: Benediktsdóttir, Ásta K.. "Svava Jakobsdóttir". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 January 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14822, accessed 18 January 2025.]