The Ghosts of Iceland

by Robert Anderson

There's a lot you don't know about Iceland. Easy to follow and full of quality research, THE GHOSTS OF ICELAND introduces you to ancient spiritual practices that still affect the culture today. Whether it's group seances, spirit doctors, or conversations between the living and the dead, this spiritual anthropology textbook goes in-depth to examine Iceland's spiritual climate.

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2004

About the author

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ROBERT ANDERSON was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1964. He grew up outside of Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota. He came to New York in 1986 and lived for many years in Times Square residential hotels–the Vigilant, the Woodward, and the St. James–while working as a cook and writing. His first book, the short-story collection Ice Age, won the University of Georgia Press’s Flannery O’Connor Award in 2000.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat-dry anthropological study ... written as a supplemental text for college cultural anthro courses ... but still fascinating for anyone interested in the diversity of world beliefs/mythologies, especially Viking lore. The people of Iceland overwhelmingly identify as Christian, yet many of the same people still hold to remnants of Norse paganism, such as a belief in the ability to make contact with spirits, the dead, elves, etc.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the author incredibly disrespectful to the people he was interviewing/observing.

[Valena Arguello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives great insight into the assimilation of religious beliefs and their manifestation.