New publication (author & editor): “Figures of the Third” in Old Norse literature

Einleitung zum Themenschwerpunkt: "Figuren des Dritten" in der altnordischen Literatur (Anita Sauckel & Jan Alexander van Nahl) open access

- Troll und Mensch. Die Darstellung des "Mischlings" (blendingr) in der altisländischen Literatur (Mathias Kruse) open access
- Tertium comparationis. Figuren und Strukturen des "Dritten" in der Færeyinga saga im Kontext des isländischen 13. Jahrhunderts (Andreas Schmidt) open access
- Disruptivität, Transgressivität, Monstrosität. Das Monströse als third term in den Isländersagas (Rebecca Merkelbach) open access

A few words about me …

My name is Jan Alexander van Nahl, and I am from Germany. I visited Iceland for the first time in 2004, and moved here in 2014. From 2019 to 2021, I was an assistant professor (Lektor) in medieval Icelandic literature at the Háskóli Íslands. Since 2021, I have been an associate professor (Dósent). My previous studies at the universities of Bonn, Uppsala and Munich encompassed Medieval and Modern Scandinavian Studies, Cultural Geography, and Archaeology. I defended my doctoral dissertation in 2012, published my first book in 2013, and completed my habilitation (venia legendi) in 2020. Since 2021, I have been a full member of the Academy of Sciences and Letters in Agder, Norway.

Obviously, I am interested in medieval literature, culture and mentality, but likewise in the question of why we are doing things the way we are doing them, i.e., in reception and effective histories. I like traveling, translating, philosophising, mountain (b/h)iking, drawing, and graphic novels, among many other things. I am also a full member of the Icelandic Search & Rescue service.