Jón Stefán Sveinsson

The presentation made by Kate Indichekova

Who is the “Nonni”?

A writer?

Jón Stefán Sveinsson

Was born at Modruvellir, Iceland, and grew up in Akureyri;

He received a scholarship to study in France from a French aristocrat, a lover of Iceland;

At the age of twelve he moved to Denmark and France;

Unfortunately his journey was delayed because of the French-German War in 1870;

He waited in the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Copenhagen, and became a Catholic at the age of thirteen

He attended the Jesuit School in Amiens, France;

At the age of 21 he entered the Society of Jesus;

He and taught French, Norse, sport, and drawing at the Andreas College in Denmark

Jon Stefan SveinssonA Jesuit Prayer

-Is “Nonni”a well-known person outside

Iceland ?In Cologne, Germany, on June 18-30, 2011, there was an exhibition of Nonni's life and work at the cultural and information center and meeting point for tourists and citizens likewise, located in the very center of the city.

The exhibition was called “Nonni. Leben und Werk (Life and Work). Jón Stefán

Sveinsson (1857-1944)” and recounts Nonni’s life and work by means of photo panels

plus text.

-Yes, he is…

A story-teller?It was serious gout that forced him to give up teaching and turn to writing at the age of 55. He had a wonderful gift for story-telling, and a longing to see the wide worldHis first book, Islandblomster [Iceland Flowers], published in 1906, was a cultural and literature study of Iceland and its sagas that Sveinsson regarded as "flowers."

His portrait became known throughout the world…

His first "Nonni" book was Nonni. Erlebnisse eines jungen Isländers, von ihm selbst erzählt [Nonni: Experiences of a Young Icelander, Told by Himself] published in German in 1913.

What is said about Nonni’s books?

“What I like most about the “Nonni books” is the clean and simple language and the fascinating way in which the author Jón Sveinsson takes the reader with him right into the story: you can picture yourself in the middle of the beautiful and breathtaking Icelandic nature and you feel being part of the whole adventurous plot! Most stories are very thrilling and even dramatic – and at times also sad and even cruel – yet there is no ugly or shameful vocabulary which in modern books – even children’s books – can be found today”

“Friendship” and “family ties” are also very important in Jón Sveinsson’s books and last, but not least, Nonni’s, Manni’s and their mother’s absolute trust in God is exemplary and catching! <…>A very good example of the religious content of Jón Sveinsson’s books is the title “Lost in the Arctic. Adventures of Two Boys”

Martin Barillas:

Nonni museum in Akureyri…

Nonni's House, which was built in 1850, is one of the oldest houses in Akureyri. It has been preserved as an example of a typical 19th century Icelandic town home.

Nonni´s HouseThe so called Nonni´s House, which the author and the Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson, Nonni, lived in during his childhood in Akureyri in northern Iceland, has been carefully remodeled into a memorial museum.

-Who is “Nonni?”

-Who is “Nonni”?

- A Jesuit Prayer…

- One of the most famous Icelandic people in Iceland…

- A person well-known in France, Denmark or Germany…

- A writer…

Writer and Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson "Nonni".

References

http://www.nonni.is/?m=page&f=viewPage&id=21

http://www.speroforum.com/a/52019/Exemplary-Lives-Jon-Nonni-Svensson

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iceland_as_a_fairy-tale__jrszymkiewicz/8162162638/