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Thursday, 29 October 2026 Icelandic stories. Global audience.
Icelandic Life

New book chronicles a thousand years at Holt under Eyjafjöll

Holts saga, a 400-page illustrated work by writer and historian Óskar Guðmundsson, explores the history of Holt and its priest's residence from the settlement period to today.

A town in a fjord lit up on a winter night
File photo.

A new book titled Holts saga has been published. It recounts the history of Holt under Eyjafjöll and its surroundings in southern Iceland, Sunnlenska reports.

Holts saga was written by Óskar Guðmundsson, who is described as both a writer and a historian. The 400-page book is published in a relatively large format, making it a substantial addition to Icelandic historical literature.

The richly illustrated book explores the development of the Holt area and provides a detailed account of the unique history of the priest’s residence at Holt. According to Sunnlenska, the narrative covers about a thousand years of human life in the region.

Background

Holt under Eyjafjöll is an area in southern Iceland, noted for its historical significance. The locality has been inhabited since Iceland’s settlement period, and the priest’s residence at Holt has played a continuous role in the region’s cultural and religious life.

Sources