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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I is for Islandia



For this, my third year doing the challenge, I am going literary. For every letter of the alphabet I will talk about a book, an author or a character from fiction or myth that made an impression, was inspirational, or caused me to think.




I'm not sure when I first read Islandia, by Austin Tappan Wright.
Probably sometime in the late 1960's, 1970-71 at the latest.

It is an epic story that takes places around 1910 in the fictional country of Islandia, situated on a small continent in the southern Atlantic. Islandia has an ancient, near Utopian society/culture that has developed in total isolation from the rest of the world. But a new day is dawning. Rich in minerals and farm land, the United States and Europe is pressuring the government of Islandia to open its doors to trade. To that end, Islandia allows "ambassadors" (if you will) from various countries to come and live for one year, at which time, the people of Islandia will decide if they want to open their country or remain isolationists.

Thus does a naive young American named John Lang find himself in a completely different culture in the middle of political and romantic intrigue.

Austin Tappan WrightAustin Tappan Wright first imagined Islandia as a boy and spent his life developing its history, geography, culture and its story. First published in 1941, eleven years after the author's death, Islandia is an epic on the scale of Lord of the Ring. But there is no magic here, no elves or wizards. It is not a fast, action packed read. But it is a read that will, by the end, make you long for Islandia to be a real place set, as it is, in this real world.

My paperback copy, printed in 1958, resides by my bed. Whenever I get the urge to go some place really special, I pick it up and fall into warmth of the Dorn household or go walking among the mountains.

Copies of this remarkable book can be found at Amazon.

Have any of you heard of Islandia?


I is for Islandia. Other I influences: The Illiad

21 comments:

  1. I have heard of it, I thought I read it long ago, but your review does not ring the appropriate bells.

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  2. Not something I think I've read, but I will now. Sounds like someplace I wish was real.

    The cover looks awfully familiar though.

    And hey, Island of the Blue Dolphins. That's an I book. Have you read it? Maybe that's what I'm thinking of. I'm really thinking that's the cover that's so familiar. I remember those covers way back when.

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  3. Never heard of it, but will seek it out. Good review.

    mood

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  4. Sounds like a great place to live. Now I'm curious to see if they opened up their country or not.

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  5. Oh no! I've never read this one. But if you recommend it, then I am definitely adding it to my must read list.

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  6. I've heard of this book though I've never read it. I may have to add it to my reading list.

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  7. Haven't read Islandia, Bish. Obviously I will have to get a copy now. I love being transported to other worlds. Thanks so much for this one.

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  8. I wonder if I can still find a copy?

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  9. Oh gosh Bish! I read this when I was young. I had totally forgotten about it. Thank you for reminding me. I depend on you to make me remember this stuff. Such a beautiful book.

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  10. The name sounds familiar, but that could just be because there are similar titles out there. I know I've never read it. Sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for mentioning it!

    Erin

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  11. I've never read it but I dig the old cover.

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  12. Pretty interesting. I never even heard of this book before.

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  13. I haven't heard of it, but the cover looks familiar. It sounds like a place I'd love to run away to, too.

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  14. I've heard of this book but never read it. Sounds like I would really be longing for retirement if I did.

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  15. What an interesting book. I am writing a book about an island right now so I might have to check his out after I'm finished writing my own!

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  16. Bish, you keep introducing me to some really interesting stuff. Never heard of this book before, but Islandia sounds like somewhere I'd want to live.

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  17. No, it is a new title for me. Now I need to buy it.

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  18. I've never seen this book before, but this post makes me want to read it.

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  19. I'd not heard of this novel before. It sounds intriguing.

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  20. I have never read Islandia! After reading this fabulous post I am most interested. It sounds great and the fact that you keep it next to your bed says a lot! Thanks for sharing!

    ~Jess

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  21. Sounds like an interesting book. I will have to see if I can find a copy.

    Lisa
    http://livethemoment09.blogspot.com

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