Johnson, Jakobína (1883-1977) — Kertaljós [Candle Light] : úrvalsljóð

Reykjavík Ísafoldarprentsmiðja First edition pp. 94 [1]; 16 cm. 12mo. Fine in pebbled leatherette over boards with gilt lettering and illustration to front board; gilt foredges. Subjects: Poetry/Ljóð; Icelandic-Canadian literature; Íslenskar bókmenntir. The author, the daughter of Icelandic-Canadian poet Sigurbjorn Johannsson, moved from Iceland to Argyle, Manitoba in 1899 when she was six years of age; she grew up in this Canadian town and taught school for some time in Manitoba; she later moved to Seattle. Scholars also consider her an accomplished poet and translator - see for example Richard Beck's History of Icelandic Poets, Cornell University Press, 1950, pp 236-8. She is considered both a Canadian and American writer. For example, Watson Kirkonnell includes her work in his book, Canadian Overtones. He states (p. 45) that she was "the author not only of much very fine original verse but of many verse translations from Icelandic into English". Two listings only on Amicus for the edition with this copyright date (1938). Scarce.