Kristian Guttesen

Kristian Guttesen was born on May 29th 1974 in Denmark, where he grew up. At age 11 he moved to Iceland. Kristian studied software engineering at the University of Glamorgan in Wales, graduating with a bachelor‘s degree in 1999. He later graduated from the University of Iceland with an MA in creative writing and an MA in philosophy, as well as a diploma in education. Kristian is currently a doctoral student at the University of Birmingham in England, studying the application of poetry in the ethical development of secondary school students.

Kristian‘s first book of poetry, Afturgöngur (Ghosts), was published in 1995. Many more have followed, most recently Englablóð (Angels‘ Blood) and Hendur morðingjans (The Murderer‘s Hands), both in 2016. Kristian was nominated for the Icelandic Translator‘s Prize in 2007 for his translation of the novel Brekkan (Skråninga) by Carl Frode Tiller. He has read at and taken part in poetry festivals both in Iceland and abroad.

Kristian‘s work has been translated into many languages, among them Albanian, Danish, French, Spanish and Ukranian. A selection of his poetry in English translation was published under the title Lady of the Mountain and Other Poems in 2017. A selection of his poetry in English translation was published under the title Spoon|Forks in 2018.