The Icelandic folktale collector Jón Árnason was born on 17 August 1819 at Hof on Skagaströnd, where his father, Árni Illugason (1754–1825), was priest. Jón was six years old when his father died and then moved from Hof with his mother, Steinunn Ólafsdóttur (1789–1864), staying at different farms. From the age of ten Jón lived with several priests and received preparation for entry to the Latin school at Bessastaðir, from which he graduated in May 1843. That spring he was hired to teach the children of Sveinbjörn Egilsson (1791–1852), who was first teacher, and later rector, of the Latin school. Jón stayed with the family for years and moved with them to Reykjavík in 1846.
Jón Árnason is best known for being the first to collect and publish Icelandic folktales, but he
1298 words
Citation: Þorsteinsdóttir, Rósa. "Jón Árnason". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 May 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14951, accessed 24 November 2024.]