Angels of the Universe by Einar Már Guðmundsson
Few novels have made such a lasting impression on the Icelandic nation as Angels of the Universe. In the novel, the main character, Paul, tells his life story from the cradle to the grave, and describes how the shadow of mental illness falls over his life as the innocence of childhood slips away. Although the novel describes the bitterness of Paul’s fate, it is also very humorous. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its narrative balance between moments of hilarity and bitter sadness.
In 1995 Einar Már Gudmundsson was awarded the Nordic Council Literature Prize for Angels of the Universe. The novel has been translated into more languages than any other Icelandic book in recent times. It has found an audience and received excellent reviews all around the
world. An Icelandic movie based on the novel was also well received.
Translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder