Most Unimaginably Strange

Chris Caseldine has invested a career of scholarly expertise and enthusiasm for Iceland in the creation of a unique 324-page book on the many diverse landscapes of this small island nation. This passion project goes much further than providing a simple geological explanation, as it combines the humanities with historical and cultural geography to tell the story of Iceland’s environmental history. Consequently, the book reads more like a story, comprehensively communicating the essence of what Iceland is, and how it is perceived. Professor Caseldine exceptionally weaves together the physical, cultural, and historical geography of the island, providing a detailed interpretation of the regional geography of the country. He communicates the how, what, when, where, and why of the Icelandic landscape, adding to its fascination and ongoing awe, curiosity, novelty, and chaos . . . Stories of the Icelandic sagas compliment the landscapes where they took place, many of which are beautifully illustrated with more than 100 images, the majority of which are in color. The book invites the reader to travel across both time and space in an immersive manner, where body, mind, and spirit are simultaneously engaged. * Progress in Physical Geography *
A most impressive work. Travellers to Iceland in the nineteenth century did not see the land as it was, but more as they expected it to be: an exotic landscape. Chris Caseldine takes a different approach, travelling through the history and topography of Iceland with great understanding and knowledge of his subject. It is highly recommended to anyone who loves to explore the unknown. * Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon, Professor of Cultural History, University of Iceland *
Anyone whose dreams are haunted by Iceland’s mountains and mossy lava plains will find lots to learn and to enjoy in this colorful book and the striking tales it tells. Put on your coziest wool sweater and learn how Iceland’s landscapes inspired great debates in earth science and shaped the fates of Icelanders and countless awestruck visitors through the centuries. * Yarrow Axford, polar geoscientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University *