“The Light of the World” is a tetralogy by the classic of Icelandic literature Halldór Laxness (b. 1902), his most significant work, according to the author himself. The novel tells the story of a poor skald who, despite his meager and cruel life, sings of the beauty of the world. Subtle, elegant irony, bright colors originating in the famous Icelandic sagas, and a brilliant, sharp mind have long turned Laxness into a legend in his homeland, and his books have found admirers in many countries.