November 1, 2026, marks the 61st anniversary of the birth of Hrafn Jökulsson, the Icelandic writer and journalist whose life also encompassed politics and competitive chess. Born on November 1, 1965, he is remembered principally for his writing, with a biography that reaches across several areas of Icelandic public life.
According to his Wikipedia biography, Hrafn began working in journalism at fifteen and later became an editor. Writing was also part of his family background: his mother was journalist Jóhanna Kristjónsdóttir, and his father was writer Jökull Jakobsson. His own career brought together work as an author and a journalist.
His interests extended beyond the written word. He served as a deputy member of parliament and was a competitive chess player. In 1998, he helped found a competitive chess club and later served as its chairman, taking an organisational role alongside his involvement as a player.
Hrafn married Oddný Halldórsdóttir on August 22, 2022. He died on September 17 that year, aged 56.
On his birth anniversary, those strands of his biography offer a way to remember him: through his writing and journalism, his parliamentary service, and his participation in chess. Together, they trace a life with several distinct commitments, with writing at its centre.
