I found this softcover in this new-to-me Sharing Library in Nashua NH while dropping off some books of my own. (There's a charming tiny pond near the LFL, with a small sculpture of a praying mantis just visible in the photo.)

I've read about Iceland here and there, and have enjoyed a number of Nordic-noir novels set there, but there's a lot more to the history of the country than I'd known. This book blends geology, history, culture, and some wry humor as it follows the discovery and colonization of Iceland, its place in the cultural history of the Nordic peoples (I hadn't realized that nearly all of the known Norse mythology comes from works written by and/or preserved by Icelanders), and its more modern-day issues and advantages. (The book's from 2021 and includes the advent of COVID-19 in Iceland - where, apparently, they were able to contain it quite deftly, though as they rely heavily on international trade to stock vital foods and other goods, the pandemic did have an impact.)

In addition to the impressive cultural history, Iceland has its geographic wonders. I was aware of the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, which caused widespread flight delays due to fear of the ash damaging jet engines - but I hadn't heard of the 1783 eruption of Laki, which devastated the country and triggered global weather changes. [There are some quips in the book about how Iceland could be a global power if it could learn how to aim the volcanos!]

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

** Released for the 2023 4 Elements challenge. **

** Released for the 2023 Oh, the Places We Can Go challenge. **

Found this book when dropping off one of my own.