JAM-gruppan låt inbinda någon exemplar av ,,Norðanvindur” i svart rexin och en bok för varje diktare i vit pergament. Som det ses på bildet så vara teckningen av diktarene trycket på ryggen av boken och vara detta arbetatt av Ragnar G. Einarsson ordförande i JAM-gruppan.

Iceland

Hannes Pétursson. Born in Sauðárkrókur ,N.-Iceland, Dec. 14 1931. G.C.E. at the Reykjavík Higher Sec. Grammar School in 1952, Cand. Phil. diploma in Icelandic Studies at the University of Iceland 1959. In the service of the Publishing Department of the Icelandic Cultural Fund 1964 – 1976. Debut in the literary field with “Kvæðabók” – “Book of Poetry”- in 1955. His ensuing literary output spans the entire gamut; poetry, short stories, studies, articles and historical writings. Honorary member of the Writers´ Union of Iceland in 1991. Holder of the Icelandic Literary Prize in 1993, nominated for idem in 2006. On four occasions Hannes Pétursson has been designated as a runner for the Nordic Council Literary Prize.

Þorsteinn of Hamar. Born at farmstead Hamar in Borgarfjörður, S-Iceland, March 15 1938. Secondary School studies and diploma at Reykholt Lower Secondary School 1954. Studies at the Iceland Teachers´ Training College 1955-1957. Assist. Librarian at the Kópavogur Town Library 1961- 1967 when he adopted a professional writing career. Þorsteinn´s first poetry, “In the Black Robe”, came forth in 1958. Honorary member of the Writers´ Union of Iceland in 2006. Þorsteinn of Hamar recived the Icelandic Literary Prize in 1992 and has received three nominations for the Nordic Council Literary Prize.

Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir. Born at farmstead Hjalli in Seyðisfjörður, E-Iceland, July 18 1930. Theater studies 1951-1953. Teacher´s diploma from the Iceland Teachers´ Training College 1952. Professional teaching career at different schools in Reykjavík betw. 1952 and 2000. Vilborg´s first book of poetry “The Leaves of the Trees” appeared in 1960. The following years saw seven others in addition to 8 childrens´ books and a number of translations. Honorary member of the Writers´ Union of Iceland in 1998. Honors of various kind have been bestowed upon Vilborg for her writings, incl. nomination for the Icelandic Literary Prize in 1992 and The Jónas Hallgrímsson Prize for exemplary use of the Icelandic language in 1996. Her further distinctions incl. the year 2000 IBBY-Iceland Honorary Prize for her inspiring work with children.

Einar Már Guðmundsson. Born in Reykjavík, Sept. 18 1954. G.C.E. at the Reykjavík Lakeside Higher Sec. Grammar School in 1975. Bachelor´s Degr. in Literature and History at the University of Iceland 1979. Took up residence in Copenhagen for six years while pursuing his literary studies at the Copenhagen University. Einar Már´s first book of poetry, “Is anyone wearing Custom Made Suit Here?” appeared in 1980. His oeuvre also includes several novels which have earned him a high reputation, incl. five nominations for the Icelandic Literary Prize. The latest in the year 2007 for his novel, “The Prison Bars of our Minds”. He received the Nordic Council Literary Prize in 1995.

Pjetur Hafstein Lárusson. Born in the Vestmann Islands, S-Iceland, in 1952 but grew up in Akureyri, N-Iceland, and Reykjavík. Journalistic studies in Kungälv, Sweden where he has also made his nest on occasions. Along with his literary career, Pjetur Hafstein has been a virtual jack-of-all-trades. His first book of poetry, “Looking for Lines”, emerged in 1972. To date, his liteary output amounts to more than twenty publications, incl. 15 novels and 3 books of verse, comprised of translations by Swedish, Chinese and Japanese poets. His own poetry has appeard in Swedish, English and Spanish. Further, he as issued two dialogues, short stories and a symposium entitled “The Poets of Hveragerði”. Further, he has written countless articles and conducted radio programs.

Denmark

Inger Christensen. Born in Vejle, Jutland, Jan.16 1935. Dead Jan.2 2009. G.C.E. and a Teacher´s degree at Århus Seminarium. In the wake of a teaching career she turned to professional writing in 1964. Her first collection of poems, “Lys” – “Light”- appeared in 1962. Apart from poetry, novels, essays and childrens´books, she has written radio- and TV plays. Inger Christensen has been a member of Det Danske Akademi – The Danish Academy – since 1978 and filled the ranks of the Acadèmie Européenne de Poésie since 1996.

Pia Tafdrup. Born in Copenhagen, May 29 1952. G.C.E. from the Helsingør Higher Sec. Grammar School in 1971. Cand. Mag. diploma at the University of Copenhagen in 1977. Her first book of poetry, “Når der går hul på en engel” – “When an Angel gets shot” – appeared in 1981. She has issued 20 books since, incl. 11 poetry books, and has been a member of Det Danske Akademi since 1989. Pia Tafdrup was awarded the Nordic Council Literary Prize in 1999.

Här ses teckningene av diktarene på ryggen av ,,Norðanvindur”.

Sweden

Bruno K. Öijer. Born in Linköping, Nov. 26 1951. First poems appeared
under the title “Sång för anarkismen” –“A Hymn for Anarchy” – in 1973. The ensuing years have seen 12 poetical works, the latest one an Anthology of poems – “Samlade dikter” – in 2004. His novel, “Chivas Regal” appeared in 1978. Recognition in multiple form has come his way, i.a. Bellmannpriset and Sveriges Radios Lyrikpris in 1999 and De Nicos Stora Pris as well as Erik Lindegren-Priset in 2002.

Tomas Tanstrømer. Born in Stockholm in 1931. Holds a degree in Psychology. His debut, “17 dikter” – “17 Poems”- appeared in 1954 introducing a new wavelength into Swedish poetry. “För levande och döda” – “For the Living and the Dead”- emerged in 1989 as his tenth book of poetry. This collection earned him the Nordic Council Literary Prize in 1990. In that same year he was struck paralyzed and lost his speech. This did not deter him from continuing his literary output with the 1996 publication of “The Gondola of Grief” – “Sorgegandolen” which proved his intact aptitude for writing. He received the Augustinpriset for the best Swedish poetry of that year and the book became the bestseller among all-time Swedish poetry. Tomas Tanstrømer ranks as one of Sweden´s laureate poets and his work has been translated into 51 languages.

Norway

Stein Mehren. Born in Oslo, May 16 1935. A writer and a painter.He studied Philosophy and Biology. His literature mostly includes poetry, first appearance in the field with the book “Gjennom stillheten en natt” – “Through the stillness one night” in 1960. More than 30 collections of poetry have appeared since. He gave his first exhibition in 1993 and ever since he has illustrated some of his poetical work himself. Through the years, Stein Mehren has received countless signs of recognition, i.a. Gyldendalprisen in 2004, and he has been nominated seven times for the Nordic Council Literary Prize, the latest nomination dating from 2005.

Knut Ødegård. Born in Molde, Møre- and Romsdal counties, Nov. 6 1945. G.C.E. from the Molde Higher Sec. Grammar School in 1965. Studies in Theology and Philosophy in Oslo, to be followed by literary studies in Cambridge, England. As residence is concerned, he alternates between his home town, Molde, and Reykjavík, Iceland where he was at the helm of the Nordic House betw. 1984 and 1989. His first book of poetry, “Drøymaren, vandraren og kjelda” – “The Dreamer, the Roamer and the Quagmire” appeared in 1967. This has been succeeded by a dozen other titles. Knut Ødegård has been a literary critic at the Norwegian newspaper “Aftenposten” since 1969. He has shown himself to be an prolific translator, e.g. as Icelandic literature is concerned. Further, Knut Ødegård´s work ranks as the most popular oeuvre of all Norwegian authors among translators; some 23 languages have forwared his message to the nations of the world. He has reveived numerous tokens of homage, incl. Molde Kommunes Kulturpris in 2001 and the Slovanian Ján Smrek Prize (the Slovak Int. Lyrics Prize) in 2007.

Finland

Bo Carpelan. Born in Helsinki, Oct. 25 1926 of Finnish and Swedish origin. He studied Literature at the Helsinki University, earning his doctorate in Philosophy in 1960. Carpelan was assigned to the Helsinki City Library betw. 1964 and 1980 when he received a five year position as a professor of arts. His debut, “Som en dunkel värme” – “Like a Shadowy Heat” – a collection of poems, appeared in 1946. He has since published almost 40 titles; poetry, short stories, plays and essays, in addition to childrens´ books and translations. Bo Carpelan received the Nodic Council Literary Prize in 1977 but has also received honors of various kinds.

Eva-Stina Byggmäster. Born in Jakobstad, W-Finland, in 1967. Being of Finnish-Swedish origin, she lived in Sweden for a number of years but has now taken up residence in Jeppo, Finland. Her first book of poetry, “I glasskärvornas rike” – “In the Realm of Broken Glass” – appeared in 1986. The follow-up includes ten other collections. The latest one, “Älvdrottningen” – “The Fairy Queen” (2006) earned the poet a nomination for the 2007 Nordic Council Literary Prize. She has received a number of other honors for her work, e.g. The Swedish Radio Literary Prize (1998) and Finlands Svenska Televisions Litteraturpris (2006).

Kari Aronpuro. Born in Tammerfors, W-Finland, June 30 1940. G.C.E. in 1961. A Finnish poet and librarian living in Tammerfors. His first book of poetry, “Peltiset enkelit” – “Angels of Tin” -, appeared in 1964, only to be followed by almost 30 other collections of poetry. His latest one, “Gathandu”, saw the light of day in 2005. Various honours have been bestowed upon him through the years, incl. the “Finlandia Prize” in 2004.

The Faroe Islands

Rói R. Patursson. Born in Thorshavn, Sept.21 1947. Holds a Cand. Mag. diploma in Philosophy, University of Copenhagen. Residence in Copenhagen 1970 – 1985, presently resides in Thorshavn as a University employee. His first book of verse, “Yrkingar” – “Poetry”- appeared in 1969, two others have followed: “Á alfaravegi” – “On the Beaten Track”- 1976 and “Líkasum” 1985. The latter earned him the Nordic Council Literary Prize in 1986, to be ensued by the Faeroese Literary Prize in 1988.

Tóroddur Poulsen. Born in 1957. First poems, “Botnfall” – “Sediment” – appeared in 1984 and eight others have emerged since, along with two prose compositions. His book “Reglur” – “Rules” appeared in 1994 – Swedish translation in 1997 – and instantly ranked him among the leading Faroese authors of the day. He received the Faroese Literary Prize in 1992 and on three occasions he has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literary Prize.

Sápmi ( Lapland)
The Linguistic Region of the Sami (Sápmi) People

Rauni Magga Lukkari. Born in Utsjoki in 1943 in the Finnish sector of Sápmi. Has resided in Tromsø, N-Norway, for the last 20 years, presently a Norwegian citizen. She ranks among the most prominent contemporary poets of the Sami people. Her first book of verse in her native language appeared in 1980 and was entitled “Jienat vulget” –“ By the Cracking Ice”. Her fifth collection of poems, “Clear Days of Frost” appeared in Icelandic, translated by author and scholar Einar Bragi in 2001. This book earned her the Samic Literary Prize in 1996. Rauni Magga Lukkari was nominated for the Nordic Council Literary Prize in 1987.

Rose-Marie Huuva. Poet and painter. In her poetry she remains faithful to her native tongue, the Sami language. Her debut was the collection of poems, “Galbma Rádná” in 2001 which swiftly made her eligible for the Nordic Council Literary Prize. Previously she had published poems in the Sami language as well as in Swedish in various periodicals. Her poetry was first made accessible to the Icelandic public with the Sami anthology og poems “Wispering to the Rock”; translations by Einar Bragi in 1981. Rose-Marie Huuva lives in Kiruna in N-Sweden.