Iceland’s Winds & Words: How a Year Abroad Inspired a Writer

The wind howled a lament across the Skagafjörður fjord, a sound that, for one young writer, became inextricably linked to a year of self-discovery in a remote Icelandic town. Hannah Kent, then a sixteen-year-old exchange student, arrived in Sauðárkrókur in January, seeking respite from the pressures of deciding her future, and found instead a landscape and a culture that rekindled a lifelong passion for writing.

Sauðárkrókur, situated on the southwestern shore of the Skagafjörður fjord, is the largest urban area in the region and serves as a vital hub for the surrounding municipality. According to information from Visit North Iceland, the town combines a thriving fisheries operation with agricultural processing and a robust service sector. It’s a community of approximately 2,614 people, as reported in 2019 data from Wikipedia, and serves as the seat of both the Sveitarfélagið Skagafjörður (Municipality of Skagafjörður) and the Northwestern Region.

Kent’s initial experience was one of isolation, compounded by the harsh Icelandic winter. The relentless winds and the pervasive gloom fueled a sense of disorientation, prompting her to write as a means of understanding her new surroundings. “I wrote to understand myself in this new place. I wrote to understand Iceland, its brutality and its beauty,” she recounts. Her early attempts at capturing the landscape – the mountains, the sea, the valleys – were initially a private exercise, a way to navigate her loneliness.

A turning point came in Icelandic class, where Kent began composing poetry in the margins of her notebook while gazing at Mount Tindastóll. Her teacher, Geirlaugur, noticed her absorption and, rather than reprimanding her for neglecting the assigned work, recognized a fellow poet. He gifted her an anthology of Icelandic nature poems, translated into English, with a handwritten inscription encouraging her to continue writing. “Keep going, and you will be published one day,” he told her, a sentiment that resonated deeply with Kent, who had previously questioned the value of pursuing a career in the arts.

This encounter proved pivotal. Kent discovered a cultural reverence for literature in Iceland that she hadn’t anticipated. She learned that Iceland boasts a remarkably high rate of publication – one in ten citizens publishes a book in their lifetime – and that poets historically held a position of esteem equal to that of warriors. Her reading expanded to include the works of Halldór Laxness, the Nobel laureate, and the Sagas of the Icelanders, further immersing her in the nation’s literary tradition.

The experience transformed her perspective. Iceland, with its “sentient winds and blushing mountains,” became her muse. The initial sense of alienation gave way to a feeling of belonging, fostered by friendships and a growing appreciation for the Icelandic language and culture. Kent’s story highlights a broader trend: three cruise ships are scheduled to dock in Skagafjörður next summer, according to Iceland Review, signaling a growing interest in the region as a tourist destination.

Kent’s narrative is not simply a personal anecdote; it speaks to the power of place and the importance of cultural exchange. Her experience underscores how a supportive environment can nurture creativity and reaffirm a sense of purpose. The encouragement she received from Geirlaugur, and the broader cultural appreciation for literature in Iceland, were instrumental in her decision to pursue writing as a vocation. She continues to return to Iceland, finding inspiration in its landscapes and its literary heritage. And when self-doubt creeps in, she remembers his simple, yet powerful, encouragement: “Áfram.” – onwards.

Sauðárkrókur, with its coordinates at 65°44′46″N 19°38′22″W, offers more than just a picturesque setting. It’s a community that combines traditional industries – fisheries and agriculture – with modern services, providing a relatively comprehensive range of amenities, comparable to those found outside of the capital, Reykjavík. The town also boasts attractions such as the Sauðárkrókur-Tindastóll Ski Area, the Skagafjörður Golf Club, and the Glaumbær historical farm, as detailed by Visit North Iceland. Borgarsandur, a four-kilometer black sand beach, and the birdlife around Áshildarholtsvatn lake and the Héraðsvötn river further contribute to the region’s natural appeal.