Laura Goodman Salverson (December 9, 1890 – July 13, 1970) was a Canadian author.^[1] Her work reflected her Icelandic heritage. Two of her books won Governor General's awards for literature.

Early life

Salverson was born Laura Goodman in Winnipeg, Manitoba,^[1] the daughter of Lárus Guðmundsson and Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir who immigrated to Winnipeg in 1887 from Grundir in Bolungarvík, Iceland. She married George Salverson in 1913.

Career

While a young housewife and mother, Salverson began writing poetry. Several of her poems were published by local newspapers.^[2]

In 1923 Salverson published her first novel. The Viking Heart.^[3] She went on to write several novels based on Icelandic sagas and themes. Many of the characters in her stories were Scandinavian and German.^[4]

Salverson wrote about her experiences with poverty and racial prejudice.^[5] Her writings reflected her belief that Icelandic immigrants to Canada should maintain and support their Icelandic culture.^[6] In 1939 she wrote an autobiography.^[7]

Works

• The Viking Heart (1923)
• When Sparrows Fall (1925)
• Wayside Gleams (1925)
• Lord of the Silver Dragons (1927)
• The Dove (1933)
• The Dark Weaver: Against the Sombre Background of the Old Generations Flame the Scarlet Banners of the New (1937), winner of a 1937 Governor General's Award
• Black Lace (1938)
• Confessions of an Immigrant's Daughter (1939), winner of a 1939 Governor General's Award
• Immortal Rock: The Saga of the Kensington Stone (1954), winner of the 1954 Ryerson Fiction Award

References

External links

• Works by Laura Goodman Salverson at Faded Page (Canada)
• Works by Laura Salverson at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
• Laura Goodman Salverson fonds, LMS-0016 are held at Library and Archives Canada. There are other complementary material in Laura Goodman Salverson fonds (R5600)