Gunnarsson, Gunnar

Gunnarsson, Gunnar, 1889-1975, Icelandic novelist. Gunnarsson lived abroad until 1939, when he returned to Iceland. Through his early works, written in Danish, he helped interest Europeans in Icelandic culture. Guest the One-eyed (4 vol., 1912-14; tr. 1920) is an Icelandic family saga; Seven Days' Darkness (1920, tr. 1930) concerns the problem of war. The Heath Laments (1940) and Sonata on the Sea (1954) are written in Icelandic. His masterpiece, the semiautobiographical Church on the Mountain (5 vol., 1923-28), illustrates his rich imagination and poetic skill. It was partly translated as Ships in the Sky (1938) and The Night and the Dream (1938). Among his later works that have been translated into English is Black Cliffs (1967).

Gunnarsson is a surname of Icelandic or Swedish origin, meaning son of Gunnar. In Icelandic names, the name is not strictly a surname, but a patronymic. The name refers to:

• Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson (contemporary), Icelandic post-rock musician
• Aron Gunnarsson (b. 1989), Icelandic professional football player playing for England
• Brynjar Gunnarsson (b. 1975), Icelandic professional football player
• Carl Gunnarsson (b. 1986), Swedish professional ice hockey player
• Guðmundur Gunnarsson (contemporary), Icelandic labor leader; father of father of Icelandic singer Björk
• Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975), Icelandic author
• Gunnar Thor Gunnarsson (b. 1985), Icelandic professional football player
• Hermann Gunnarsson (contemporary), Icelandic television and radio personality
• Jan Gunnarsson (b. 1962), Swedish tennis player
• Johánnes Gunnarsson (1897–1972), Icelandic Roman Catholic prelate
• Pétur Gunnarsson (b. 1947), Icelandic author, poet, and translator
• Rolf Gunnarsson (b. 1946), Swedish politician; member of the Riksdag since 1994
• Sturla Gunnarsson (b. 1951), Iceland-born Canadian film director
• Susanne Gunnarsson (b. 1963), Swedish Olympic canoeist
• Thorarinn Gunnarsson (contemporary), American science-fiction and fantasy author
• Þórhallur Gunnarsson (b. 1963), Icelandic actor and television personality
• Veigar Páll Gunnarsson (b. 1980), Icelandic professional football player playing for Norway
• Victor Gunnarsson (1953–1993), Swedish extremist suspected in the murder of Swedish prime minister Olof PalmeSee also
• Gunnarsdóttir