The fairy tale about Dimmalimm by Guðmundur Thorsteinsson (Muggur) (1891-1924) is celebrating its centenary. Muggur traveled to Italy in early March 1921, shortly after the premiere of the film Sons of the Soil based on Gunnar Gunnarsson´s novel, in which Muggur played one of the leading roles. The purpose of the trip to Italy was to go to Siena in Tuscany to work on the altarpiece Christ the Healer of the Sick, which is now in Bessastaðir church. Along the way, he planned to visit his sister Guðrún and her family, who lived in the small town of Pegli, just outside Genoa. To please his little aunt, Helga Egilson, he made the book Dimmalimm on board of the cargo ship he traveled with to Italy, but Helga's nickname was Dimmalimm. Muggur thought about Guðrún's nephew, Pétur Jens Thorsteinsson, later ambassador, who was then in his fourth year, as the prince in the fairy tale. With Helga's contribution, the fairy tale was published in a book for the first time in 1942 and the publisher was KRON Bookshop, where Helga worked. The excellent print work was made at St. Clements Press in London. Helga also wrote a play based on the fairy tale, which premiered at the National Theater in 1970 and the play is preserved in two editions at the library.

On baekur.is you can view Dimmalimm by Guðmundur Thorsteinsson.