Guðrún Lárusdóttir (8 January 1880 – 20 August 1938) was an Icelandic politician, writer and translator. She most notably served two terms as a member of the

Althing The Alþingi (''general meeting'' in Icelandic, , anglicised as ' or ') is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at (" thing fields" or "assemb ...

, the national parliament of Iceland.

Biography

Guðrún was born in Valþjófsstað,

Fljótsdalur Fljótsdalur () is a valley in east Iceland, formed by the Lagarfljót River. Lake Lagarfljót and the city of Egilsstaðir Egilsstaðir () is a town in east Iceland on the banks of the Lagarfljót river. It is part of the municipality of M ...

, the daughter of Lárus Halldórsson (1851–1908), a parliamentarian and priest, and his wife Kirstín Katrín Pétursdóttir Guðjohnsen (1850–1940). At a young age, she wrote about issues regarding

women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...

. She also translated works from

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

to Icelandic. In 1899, she moved to

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...

with her family. She published her first novel, a three-part series titled ''Ljós og skuggar'', between 1903 and 1905. Guðrún first sat in the town council of Reykjavík between 1912 and 1918. She was elected to the Althing, serving from 1930 to 1934, and was the second woman in the country to serve this position. Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason previously became an MP in 1922. In 1934, she became the first woman elected to the Althing for the Independence Party, a position she held until her death. Guðrún married Sigurbjörn Ástvaldur Gíslason in 1902. They had 10 children – five of whom died in childhood. On 20 August 1938, Guðrún was killed in a road accident. She was accompanied by her husband and two of their daughters, as well as a driver, when the vehicle they were travelling in plummeted into the Tungufljót river. She died by

drowning Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer as ...

along with her two daughters, Guðrún and Sigrún. Her husband and the driver managed to escape.

Publications

* ''Ljós og skuggar : sögur úr daglega lifinu'', 1903 * ''A heimleið skáldsaga úr sveitinni'', 1913 * ''Skáldsaga ur sveitinni.'', 1913 * ''Mod hjemmet'', 1916 * ''Sigur : smásaga'', 1917 * ''Tvær smásögur'', 1918 * ''Brúðargjöfin : saga'', 1922 * ''Móðir og barn : eftir sænska móður'', 1932 * ''Þess bera menn sár : skáldsaga'', 1935 * ''Sólargeislinn hans og fleiri smásögur handa börnum og unglingum'', 1938 * ''Systurnar : skáldsaga'', 1938 * ''Á heimleið : Sjónleikur í 4 þáttum eftir samnefndri skáldsögu : Lárus Sigurbjörnsson sneri sögunni í leik'', 1939 * ''Ritsafn Guðrúnar Lárusdóttur : skáldsögur, sögur fyrir unglinga, erindi og hugvekjur.'', 1949 * ''Tríggjar smásögur : Umsett úr íslendskum eftir: Sonarfórn. Sönn jólagleði. Jósef, av Victor Danielsen. Kápumynd teknað av Ingálvi av Reyni'', 1957 * ''Smásögur'', 1966 * ''Tríggjar smásögur'', 1979

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larusdottir, Guðrun 1880 births 1938 deaths Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Guðrun Larusdottir Deaths by drowning

Guðrún Lárusdóttir Guðrún Lárusdóttir (8 January 1880 – 20 August 1938) was an Icelandic politician, writer and translator. She most notably served two terms as a member of the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland. Biography Guðrún was born in Valþ ...

20th-century translators