Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Islandica, Vol. 11: An Annual Relating to Iceland and the Fiske Icelandic Collection in Cornell University Library; The Periodical Literature of Iceland Down to the Year 1874
The next periodical publication takes us to Copenhagen, where a considerable number of Icelanders always lived. It appears that in the year of 1779, two young Icelandic students, Olafur Olafsson1 and P6rarinn Sigvaldason Liliendal,2 conceived the idea of founding a society, the principal aim of which should be to improve the literary taste among the Icelanders by publishing writings in poetry and prose, as well as to spread useful informa tion in other branches of knowledge.3 The plan was submitted to jon Eiriksson,4 who then held a high governmental position and who beyond doubt was the most in?uential of his country men in Copenhagen, besides being one of the most learned of men. He eagerly embraced the plan put before him by the two young men, and henceforth became the leading spirit of the society until his tragic end. The society was formally established on Aug. 30, 1779, under the name of Hid islen: ka Lardomslista jelag (the Icelandic Literature Society); later it added the epithet of royal (konunglegt) to its name, in pursuance of the royal letter of June 22, The by-laws bear the date of Dec. 16, and their first paragraph provided that such a society should exist for ever (um alldr og afi) among the Icelandic students at the University. The society was to support all arts and sciences which could be of any consequence to Iceland, in particular those connected with household affairs, handicrafts.
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