Daughter of Fire: A Portrait of Iceland

Daughter of Fire tell a fascinating tale of volcanic activity, both geologic and historical,in the creation of modern Iceland. The book predates the completion of the road that cicles the island, which gives the reader a better sense of the trouble it took to settle and survive in Iceland.

I have just finished reading this book a second time after 20 years. As before, I was again exhilarated by Scherman's broad brush strokes taking in the land, its history, literature, geology, flora and fauna. Particularly well done are the chapter about NJALS SAGA, the greatest of the medieval family sagas. Yet I was also interested to find an excellent discussion of the EYRBYGGJA SAGA, which I have just finished reading. The first few chapters about the volcanic origin of the land, with the massive 1973 explosion of Eldfell on Heimaey and the recent birth of the nearby isle of Surtsey. Scherman is at her best in describing the feel of the land, such as the flood sands bordering Vatnajokull. It is worth the trouble to find this superb book if you, like me, are planning to visit the land of fire and ice.