[A] joyously peculiar book. -- The New York Times Bjarnason s intriguing book might be about a
cold place but it s tailor-made to be read on the beach. New Statesman The untold story of how
one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic has shaped the world for centuries. The history
of Iceland began 1 200 years ago when a frustrated Viking captain and his useless navigator
ran aground in the middle of the North Atlantic. Suddenly the island was no longer just a
layover for the Arctic tern. Instead it became a nation whose diplomats and musicians sailors
and soldiers volcanoes and flowers quietly altered the globe forever. How Iceland Changed the
World takes readers on a tour of history showing them how Iceland played a pivotal role in
events as diverse as the French Revolution the Moon Landing and the foundation of Israel.
Again and again one humble nation has found itself at the frontline of historic events
shaping the world as we know it How Iceland Changed the World paints a lively picture of just
how it all happened.
