Photo Credit: Visir Ernir
On April 21, Jón Gnarr, the world-famous Icelandic comedian and former mayor of Reykjavík, will discuss his highly entertaining and semi-fictitious memoir detailing his riotous upbringing.
About The Indian
The Indian is told with a warmth and humor that enables Gnarr’s unique personality to shine through. Subjected to constant bullying as a child, the young Gnarr found sanctuary in old Westerns where he was always rooting for the Indians to defeat the bully cowboys. Diagnosed as “intellectually disabled” because of his severe dyslexia and ADHD, Gnarr spent several years as a child in a children’s psychiatric ward. He finally got out, only to find himself subject to ridicule in regular schools for being slow…and red-haired.
Copies of the book will also be available for purchase and signing following the program. The Indian was translated by Lytton Smith of Deep Vellum Publishing. Click here for more information.
- WHAT: The Indian – Book Talk with Jón Gnarr
- WHEN: Tuesday, April 21, 6:30pm
- WHERE: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (Google Maps)
- COST: Free
About Jón Gnarr
As a child Jón Gnarr (b. 1967) was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. He nevertheless overcame his hardships and went on to become one of Iceland’s most well-known actors and comedians. In 2006 he published the first two volumes of his fictionalized autobiography; Deep Vellum Publishing will publish the trilogy in full 2015-16.
In late 2009 Gnarr, alongside a number of friends with no backgrounds in politics, formed the satirical ‘Best Party,’ which parodied Icelandic politics and aimed to make the life of Icelandic citizens more fun. In 2010 the Best Party managed a plurality win in the municipal elections in Reykjavík and Gnarr became the city’s mayor. The Best Party’s campaign was also the subject of Gnarr – Gaukur Úlfarsson’s 2010 documentary. In 2014, at the end of Gnarr’s mayoral term, the Best Party was dissolved. Its members, however, have formed a new political party: Bright Future, which in 2013 won six seats in the Icelandic parliament.
Gnarr’s other work includes the book GNARR! How I Became the Mayor of a Large City in Iceland and Changed the World (Melville House, 2014), numerous movies, including The Icelandic Dream/Íslenski draumurinn (directed by Róbert I. Douglas, Iceland, 2000), A Man Like Me/Maður eins og ég (directed by Róbert I. Douglas, Iceland, 2002), and Mr. Bjarnfreðarson/Bjarnfreðarson (directed by Ragnar Bragason, Iceland, 2009), and the award-winning television mini-series The Night Shift/Næturvaktin (Iceland, 2007).
In 2014 Gnarr won the prestigious Lennon-Ono Peace Prize for his dedicated work to promoting peace through humor and understanding around the world.
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