Benedikt Sveinbjarnarson Gröndal

Benedikt Sveinbjarnarson Gröndal[lower-alpha 1] (1826–1907) was an Icelandic naturalist, poet, illustrator, and author.[1][2]

Oil painting of Benedikt by Ólafur Th Ólafsson

Biography

Gröndal was born in Bessastaðir, which was then a Latin school.[3] His father, Sveinbjörn Egilsson, was the rector.[3]

Gröndal studied at the University of Copenhagen and was the first Icelander to receive a master's degree in Old Norse studies there.[2]

He translated the works of Homer and wrote a satirical poem about the 1859 Battle of Solferino.[3] During his lifetime he was known as a great poet, but his poetry has not remained so popular with modern audiences.[4] He is still known for his comedic prose and for his autobiography Pastime (Dægradvöl).[4] Gröndal was the main character in Guðmundur Andri Thorsson's 2013 novel Sæmd.[4]

He collected biological specimen and wrote textbooks on natural history.[2] He was a self-taught illustrator[2] and made hundreds of drawings of animals and plants.[3] His work Birds of Iceland includes 100 drawings and an overview of all known Icelandic birds.[2]

In 1889, the Icelandic Naturist Society was founded with Benedikt as the director.[2]

Gröndal's residence in central Reykjavík now hosts an exhibition.[3]

Notes
  1. Gröndal is sometimes called "Benedikt Gröndal junior" to differentiate him from his grandfather, Benedikt Gröndal the elder, who was a judge and a poet.
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References
  1. "Benedikt Gröndal í Reykjavík". Lesbók Morgunblaðsins. 29 October 1988.
  2. "Þrjú handrit". Safnahúsið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. "Gröndalshús Writer's Home". City of literature UNESCO. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. "Gröndal lifir! - Vísir". visir.is. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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