Where the Huldufólk Still Walk: Kathleen Arnason and the Living Work of Story

Authors

Keywords:

Kathleen Arnason, Huldufólk, Icelandic Folklore, Western Icelandic literature, Cultural Identity , Cultural Adaptation

Abstract

Kathleen Arnason’s Gimli Huldufólk Trilogy reimagines the Icelandic concept of huldufólk within the landscape and cultural setting of Gimli, Manitoba. Rather than reproducing traditional Icelandic folklore, Kathleen creates her own small, visible Huldufólk and builds a mythology shaped by migration, adaptation and cultural encounter. Drawing on reviews by Kendra Klausen, Guðrún Björk Guðsteinsdóttir and Kim Holl, this article considers the trilogy’s humour, sense of place, visual storytelling and themes of cooperation and transformation. It also examines the distinction between Kathleen’s literary creations and the human-sized, usually hidden beings of Icelandic folk tradition. Insights from an interview with Kathleen reveal her belief that stories travel with people and change as they enter new landscapes. As the series expands beyond Gimli and across Western Canada, it incorporates environmental concerns, local legends and intercultural storytelling, demonstrating how inherited traditions can inspire new forms of regional mythology.

       

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Published

19.10.2026

Issue

Vol. 76 (2026): Icelandic Connection

Section

Reviews

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