JONASSON, JOHANNES BJARNI

born Nov. 4, 1899, Goddastadir, Dalassla, Ice. died April 27, 1972, Rekyjavk also called Jhannes Jnasson r Ktlum poet and reformer whose works reflect his resistance to the political and economic trends that he perceived as threatening Iceland's traditional democracy. The son of a poor farmer, he studied at Reykjavk Teacher's Training College and worked first as a peripatetic rural teacher and later in Reykjavk until he retired to the country as a full-time writer. Jonasson's poetic development mirrors the major literary and social trends in 20th-century Iceland. His early works, B b og blaka (1926; Sleep Baby Sleep), and lftirnar kvaka (1929; The Swans are Singing), are neoromantic and lyrical in form and express a love of Nature. Neoromanticism gave way to Socialism in the 1930s, however, as a result of the depression in Iceland, and his third volume of poetry g lt sem g sofi (1932; I pretend to sleep) reflects this change. The poem Frelsi (Freedom) was featured in the first volume of Raudir pennar (1935; Red Pens), a Socialist literary periodical of the time. The mood and style of Jonasson's poetry underwent another change with the volume Sjdgra (1955; Book of Seven Days), written not in traditional verse form but with modernistic imagery. At this stage he attacked the resignation and apathy of the welfare society. Yet in his last volume, N og nid (1970; Waxing Moon and Waning Moon), Jonasson's hope is voiced in Iceland's new generation to continue the struggle. After World War II, Jonasson also published four novels, but his prose never reached the level of his poetry. In 1948, as Anonymous, he published Annarlegar tungur (Strange Tongues), which included translations of such modern poets as T.S. Eliot and e.e. cummings. His authorship was not revealed until the late 1950s.