Bjartur Publishing began life in 1990 and has enjoyed consistent growth ever since. From the beginning the company has been committed to publishing smart, interesting titles designed to enrich people’s lives.

The company’s original focus was on publishing translations of world literature but in recent years the proportion of contemporary Icelandic writing has seen a steady increase. A turning point for Bjartur was the acquisition of the Harry Potter rights in 1999, with the books about the intrepid young wizard enjoying unrivalled popularity among Icelandic readers.

Bjartur aims to continue life as a small but ambitious publisher. The company’s five-year plan is to see one or more of its Icelandic authors on bestseller lists abroad and to run a translation-center and an olive-farm in Italy.