Ólafur Gunnarsson

Since 2000 Ólafur Gunnarsson has published two large-scale novels, Málarinn (The Painter, 2012) and Syndarinn (The Sinner, 2015). The Painter is a book about crimes, forgery and their consequences.

Ólafur's work has been translated into other languages. The children's book Fallegi flughvalurinn (The Beautiful Flying Whale, 1989) has been published in English and was nominated for the Nordic Children's Book Prize in 1990. Some of his novels have been translated into English, German and French. Gunnarsson has also translated novels and plays into Icelandic.

Ólafur began his literary career as a poet, with poems appearing in newspapers, magazines and pamphlets before his first novel, Milljón prósent menn (Million Percent Men), which appeared in 1978. He has published novels, short stories and children's books as well as a travel story about his road trip with co-author and fellow novelist Einar Kárason in America in 2006. His novel Tröllakirkja (Trolls' Cathedral) was nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize in 1992 and the English translation was nominated for the IMPAC Dublin Literature Award in 1996. A stage adaptation of the book was premiered at the National Theatre of Iceland in 1996, and the film rights were sold. Gunnarsson received the Icelandic Literary Prize for his novel, Öxin og jörðin (The Ax and the Earth), in 2003

After graduating from the Commercial College of Iceland in 1968, Gunnarsson worked from 1965 to 1971 for Ásbjörn Ólafsson ehf, and was a driver with the Reykjavík medical emergency services from 1972 to 1978. Since 1974 he has worked as an independent writer and translator.

Ólafur Gunnarsson (born in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 18 July 1948) is a contemporary Icelandic author and translator.