Landfræðissagan (Geological History) by Þorvaldur Thoroddsen was published in four volumes, 1892–1904, and in a German edition in two volumes 1897–98. Þorvaldur is indisputably one of the most prolific writers Iceland has ever had. He wrote in Icelandic and in other languages, both educating his fellow-Icelanders about the nature of their country, and informing the international scientific community about scholarly advances based upon his research in Iceland. He was most productive after he settled in Copenhagen in 1895.
And one masterpiece after another was produced. Landfræðissagan (Geological History) was published in four volumes, 1892-1904, and in a German edition in two volumes 1897-98.
Þorvaldur Thoroddsen was born on Flatey island off west Iceland on 6 June 1855. He was the son of Jón Thoroddsen, poet, novelist and sheriff, and his wife Kristín Ólína Þorvaldsdóttir Sivertsen. At the age of 11 Þorvaldur was sent to live in Reykjavík with his maternal aunt, Katrín, and her husband, National Librarian Jón Árnason, who is famed as a collector of folktales.
In 1875 Þorvaldur went to Copenhagen intending to study zoology, but soon turned to geology. And he may justly be called the first Icelandic geologist. When he was still at university, Þorvaldur travelled around Iceland for research purposes. He was a member of a Danish expedition in 1876 to study the impact of the powerful explosive eruption of Mt. Askja in the previous year.
After university Þorvaldur embarked upon organised research on Iceland. He made major expeditions almost every summer from 1882 to 1898, travelling all over the country, uplands and lowlands, inhabited and uninhabited regions. Þorvaldur thus became in effect the explorer of Iceland. No geologist had previously travelled around the country, researching it as a whole.
An exhibition on Þorvaldur Thoroddsen is now on display in the library in cooperation with the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, the Icelandic Natural History Society and more scientific institutions and associations, commemorating the centenary of Thorvaldur’s death.
Here you can read Landfræðissaga Íslands on the web baekur.is
