Ólafur Einarsson of Kirkjubær

Katelin Parsons (Árna Magnússon Foundation for Icelandic Studies)
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Ólafur Einarsson (c. 1573–1651) was an Icelandic poet and university-educated clergyman who served as rector of the Latin school of Skálholt from 1600 to 1608. Ólafur’s father, Einar Sigurðsson of Eydalir (c. 1538–1626), was the leading religious poet of post-Reformation Iceland. Ólafur has largely faded into his father’s shadow as a hymnist, although he was extremely well-received during his own day. Over a hundred poems attributed to Ólafur survive, virtually all on religious themes. Unfortunately, few have ever been published or edited.

Ólafur grew up in relative poverty in a large household. His mother, Ólöf Þórarinsdóttir, was twenty when she married the thirty-year-old widower Einar Sigurðsson. They lived at Nes in Aðaldalur in North Iceland, where Einar served

1714 words

Citation: Parsons, Katelin. "Ólafur Einarsson of Kirkjubær". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 March 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15151, accessed 12 October 2024.]

15151 Ólafur Einarsson of Kirkjubær 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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