Downtown in Reykjavík in Reykjavíkurborg, Höfuðborgarsvæðið, Iceland — North Atlantic and Artic Oceans (a Nordic Island)

Torfhildur Hólm

Reykjavik Bókmenntaborg UNESCO City of Literature

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2017

1. Torfhildur Hólm Marker

Inscription. Torfhildur Hólm (1845-1918) var brautryðjandi á ýmsum sviðum íslenskra bókmennta. Hún var fyrsti atvinnnurithöndur landsins og fyrst íslenskra kvenna til að hljóta skáldastyrk úr landssjóði, árið 1891. Þvi var reyndar mótmælt og var styrkurinn lækkaður og kallaður „ekknastyrkur". Torfhildur bjó hér í Ingólfsstræti 18 siðustu ár ævinnar en hún lést úr spænsku veikinni sem geisaði Þá í landinu. Torfhildur skrifaði skáldsögur og smásögur og er fyrsti Íslendingurinn sem sendi frá sér sögulega skáldsögu.

„Ég var sú fyrsta sem náttúran dæmdi til Þess að uppskera hina beisku ávexti gamalla rótgróinna hleypidóma gegn litterærum dömum."

Torfhildur Hólm (1845-1918) was in many ways a pioneer in Icelandic literature. She was the first Icelandic writer who made writing her sole career and she was the first female author to receive a public writer's grant, in 1891. This was disputed and the name of the grant was thus changed into "widow's grant". Torfhildur lived here in Ingólfsstraæti 18 in her last years. She caught the Spanish flu that ravaged Iceland in 1918 and passed away shortly after. Torfhildur Hólm wrote novels

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and short stories and was the first Icelander to publish a historical novel.

"I was the first that nature doomed to reap the sour fruit of old ingrained prejudice against literary ladies."

Erected by Siminn.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 1845.

Location. 64° 8.72′ N, 21° 56.097′ W. Marker is in Reykjavík, Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæðið), in Reykjavíkurborg. It is in Downtown. It is on Ingólfsstræti just north of Spitalastigur, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Ingólfsstræti 18, Reykjavík, Capital Region 101, Iceland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

on the Atlantic Arc,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

in the Nordic Countries,

in the Schengen Area,

in the Western Hemisphere,

and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Þingholtsstræti 17 (a few steps from this marker); Þingholtsstræti 13 (within shouting distance of this

Torfhildur Hólm Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2017

2. Torfhildur Hólm Marker - Wide View

marker); Landlæknihúsið (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Bankastræti 10 (about 150 meters away); Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík / High School in Reykjavík (about 150 meters away); Þjóðfundurinn 1851 / The National Assembly of 1851 (about 150 meters away); Gimli (about 150 meters away); Laugavegur (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reykjavík.

Also see . . .
1. Torfhildur Hólm. UNESCO "Reykjavík - City of Literature" website entry (Submitted on July 11, 2017.)

2. Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir. Wikipedia entry:
Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir, also known as Torfhildur Hólm (2 February 1845 – 14 November 1918) was an Icelandic author who lived for many years in Canada. She was perhaps the first Icelander to make a living as an author, and is frequently cited as the first Icelandic woman novelist. (Submitted on July 11, 2017.)

Torfhildur Hólm Marker: Closeup of Photo image. Click for full size.

3. Torfhildur Hólm Marker: Closeup of Photo

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 411 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.