STEFNSSON, DAVD

born Jan. 21, 1895, Fagriskgur, Eyjafjrdur, Ice. died March 1, 1964, Akureyri Icelandic poet and novelist, best known as a poet of humanity. He wrote a powerful sociological novel, Slon Islandus (1940), a successful play, Gullna hlidid (1941; The Golden Gate, 1967, in Fire and Ice: Three Icelandic Plays), and other prose works, but they are overshadowed by his verse. His early poetry, including most of his folk themes and love lyrics, appeared in Svartar fjadrir (1919, Black Feathers), Kvdi (1922, Poems); Kvedjur (1924; Greetings), and N Kvdi (1929; New Poems), which were combined and published as a collected volume in 1930. His later poetrydarkening in social satire, reformatory zeal against capitalism and organized religion, and despair over the warwas published as I byggdum (1933; Among Human Habitations), Ad nordan (1936; From the North), N kvdabk (1947; A New Book of Poems), and the posthumous Sdustu lj (1966; Last Poems). Stefansson came of a cultured yeoman family and was brought up with a love for his land, its literature, and its folklore. He frequently journeyed abroad, but lived most of his life in the little town of Akureyri, where he was a librarian (1925-52). His lyrics often have the delicacy of a cradle song; yet his heroic verse shows the virility of an epic poet.