Kristjana Gunnars has been active translating from the Icelandic into English since the 1970’s. She contributed several translations of contemporary Icelandic writers and poets to the publication Icelandic Writing Today, published in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the early 1980’s. She also translated a book of essays by Finnbogi Guðmundsson on Stephan G. Stephansson’s poetry, titled Seven Essays, published in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the 1980’s. In the late 1980’s she produced a small volume of translations of some of the poetry of Stephan G. Stephansson, titled Stephan G. Stephansson, published in Canada by Red Deer Press.
In the 2000’s, she has continued to translate individual essays by Guðbergur Bergsson and Benedikt Grõndal. Her latest work of translation is the initial rendering from Icelandic to English of the manuscript of the book Recesses of the Mind; Aesthetics in the Work of Guðbergur Bergsson by Birna Bjarnadóttir, from McGill-Queens University Press. This is Dr. Bjarnadóttir’s academic study of the writings of Guðbergur Bergsson in the context of European and Icelandic aesthetic theory.
Here is a selection of other translations published in anthologies and journals:
“Homecoming.” Poem by Edith Sødergran, translated from the Swedish. Louisiana: New Delta Review (9:1), 2001.
“Sandy Bar.” Poem by Guttormur Guttormsson. The Icelanders, ed. D. Arnason and M. Olito. Winnipeg: Turnstone Press, 1981. Reprinted in Aurora, ed. Heather A. Ireland, 1994.
“The Thaw Rush.” Poem by Stephan G. Stephansson. Lyric sheet with Sun Over Darkness Prevail, “Stephan G. Stephansson poetry in translation put to song by Richard White.” Edmonton: tonic Records, 1984. Reprinted on the cover of Stephan G. Stephansson: In Retrospect, by Finnbogi Guðmundsson. Reykjavík: Menningarsjóður, 1982.
“A Taste of Destiny.” Chapter from the novel Dauðamenn by Njörður P. Njarðvík. Moonbeam, Ontario: Northward Journal 28, Fall 1983.
“Eruption in the Reading Room.” Short story by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson. Icelandic Writing Today. Reykjavík, 1982.
“Thanks,” “Fog,” “Cloud Sumphony.” Three poems by Steinar Sigurjónsson. Icelandic Writing Today. Reykjhavík, 1982.
From Love and Haddock, Chapter from a novel by Steinar Sigurjónsson. Icelandic Writing today, Reykjavík, 1982.
“Theology III,” “Postscript,” “Seamanship,” “Spring came with slush,” “Experiencepoem.” Five poems by Dagur Sigurðsson. Icelandic Writing today, Reykjavík, 1982.
“Street in the Rain.” Short story by Ásta Sigurðardóttir. Icelandic Writing Today, Reykjavík, 1982. Reprinted in Lögberg-Heimskringla (38), Fall, 1983 (Winnipeg).
The Chosen One.” Short story by Guðbergur Bergsson. Icelandic Writing today, Reykjavík, 1982.
“A Story From the Cold War.” Short story by Indriði G. þorsteinsson. Icelandic Writing Today, Reykjavík, 1982.
“Toast to Alberta,” “Margrėt Jónsdóttir from Tindastóll, Alberta.” Two poems by Stephan G. Stephansson, contained in an essay, “Icelandic Canadian Literature,” by David Arnason. Identifications: Ethnicity and the Writer in Canada. Ed. Jars Balan. Edmonton: The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1982.
“Christmas.” Chapter from Undir Kalstjörnu by Sigurður A. Magnússon. Lögberg-Heimskringla (95), December 1981 (Winnipeg).
“Toast to Alberta.” Poem by Stephan G. Stephansson. Stephansson House Historic Site. Pamphlet for the Alberta Culture Historic Sites Service, Summer 1981 (Edmonton).
“West-Icelanders.” Poem by Stephan G. Stephansson. Alberta Magazine, Summer 1980 (Calgary). Reprinted in The Icelanders, eds. D. Arnason and M. Olito. Winnipeg: Turnstone Press, 1981.
Bibliography:
Bjarnadóttir, Birna. Recesses of the Mind; Aesthetics in the Work of Guðbergur Bergsson. Trans. Kristjana Gunnars. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press. Forthcoming January, 2012.
Gröndal, Benedikt. Some Fragments Concerning the Poetic. (1854) Chapbook-length essay. Trans. Kristjana Gunnars. Published as part of Steingrímur Eyfjörð’s exhibition “The Golden Plover has Arrived” at the Venice Biennale, 2007.
Stephansson, Stephan G. Stephan G. Stephansson: Selected Prose and Poetry. Trans. Kristjana Gunnars. Red Deer: Red Deer College Press, 1988.
Guðmundsson, Finnbogi. Stephan G. Stephansson: In Retrospect. Seven Essays. Trans. Kristjana Gunnars. Reykjavík: Icelandic Cultural Fund, 1982.