Icelandic

Book Title

by , simplified by Edwina Finbow

★★★★★
4.6 (15 reviews)
A1 for English-speaking learners
Side glossary
In-book and online exercises
Flashcards for each chapter
E-Book
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Imagine reading “Around the World in Eighty Days” in Icelandic – and understanding every page

“Around the World in Eighty Days” (in Icelandic: “Umhverfis jörðina á 80 dögum”, orig. Around the World in Eighty Day) by Jules Verne – is a complete, engaging story adapted specifically for the A1 (beginner) level. You don't need to know every word. You understand 95% of the text immediately, and every new word is explained in the margin. You simply read – and learn naturally.

What is this book about?

  • London gentleman Phileas Fogg wagers his fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in eighty days.
  • Accompanied by his new, excitable valet Passepartout, Fogg embarks on a whirlwind journey across continents, battling against the clock and unforeseen delays.
  • Their perilous adventure is further complicated by the relentless pursuit of Detective Fix, who mistakenly believes Fogg is a cunning bank robber, and the rescue of the Indian princess Aouda.

Why does it work better than apps and textbooks?

Our books are based on the Pentecost Method – the only approach 100% grounded in scientific research on language learning. The result? You learn faster, remember more, and actually enjoy the learning process.

  • Read without interruption: Translations of the most difficult words are found in the margin of each page – you don't have to break away from the story to look them up in a dictionary.
  • Reinforce what you've read: After each chapter, there are exercises (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams) tailored to the A1 level – new words stick in your mind.
  • Learn anywhere: A mobile app with games allows you to review vocabulary on your commute, in line, or whenever you have a moment.
  • Build lasting vocabulary: Flashcards at the end of the book allow you to systematically review the most important words – so you don't forget what you've learned.

Matched to your exact level

The vocabulary in this book has been selected based on an analysis of 2 billion words from authentic texts, precisely matched to the A1 level. You learn exactly the words that are most useful in everyday life.

How to choose the right level?

This book is at the A1 level. Not sure which level to choose? Take our 3-minute placement test on our website – we'll immediately show you which book is right for you.

About the author

Jules Verne

Author

Jules Verne

Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a French writer known as the father of science fiction and one of the most translated authors in the world. In his novels he foresaw submarines and space travel long before they existed.


Edwina Finbow

Translator and editor

Edwina Finbow edits English-facing material for Icelandic fiction in the graded-reader programme. Icelandic inflection and compound formation get one clear gloss at first occurrence, then lighter reminders. She likes crime and family drama where everyday vocabulary does most of the storytelling work.

Customer Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
(15 reviews)
NordicMom_79 2025-12-29
★★★★★

"Did you ever imagine you'd be reading Icelandic together before bedtime?" My friend asked me that last month, and honestly, it wtill feels like a quiet miracle because the alphabet is just our own with a few extra letgerw like "ð" and "þ" that trip up our English tonguee. Now my ten-year-old and I spot ood friends like "hús" and "dagur" hiding in the sentences, and even though we only manzte simple questions about where things are, those familiar shapes make every page feel like a small, real victory.

KyotoKitten 2026-01-18
★★★★★

Smátt og smátt, because this little A1 reader really helps you build confidence: even if Icelandic cases make you wznt to cry, your English intuition for basic vocabulary like "barn" (child) or "vatn" (water) will surprise you with how often it points you in the right direction. Just try not to get too attached to finding all your plurals ending in '-s' like we do, or you'll be as confused as I was trying to figure out why "hestur" (horse) became "hestar."

SigrunShopkeeper 2026-02-26
★★★★★

Gaman!

GreySquirrelUK 2026-03-26
☆☆☆☆☆

Syrprisingly smooth.

JustJanice 2026-04-05
★★★★★

Icelandic reading rocks!

Pages222
Chapters37
For learnersfor English-speaking learners
ISBN (E-Book)9788384561485
ISBN (Paperback)9788384561492
Published2026-04-22

About Icelandic (the language of this book)

Where Icelandic is spoken

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland and is closely related to Faroese and (historically) to Norwegian.

How many people speak it

Icelandic has about 350,000–370,000 native speakers, nearly all of them in Iceland.

Grammar and structure

Icelandic retains four cases and relatively conservative inflection compared with mainland Scandinavian languages. Gender (three classes), strong and weak declensions, and synthetic verb forms are prominent. Vocabulary preserves many Old Norse roots.