Vilmundur Gylfason

Vilmundur Gylfason (7 August 1948 – 19 June 1983) was an Icelandic politician, historian and poet. He was the son of Gylfi Þorsteinsson Gíslason and Guðrún Vilmundardóttir.

Vilmundur's father was Gylfi Þorsteinsson Gíslason, a member of parliament, government minister and professor. His mother, Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, was a housewife and worked as a journalist for some time.

Vilmundur had two brothers, Þorsteinn Gylfason the philosopher, and Þorvaldur Gylfason, an economist.

Vilmundur was married to Valgerður Bjarnadóttir, daughter of Bjarni Benediktsson.

Vilmundur studied at Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, an Icelandic Junior College, from 1964 to 1968. He was editor of the student paper, served as inspector scholae for a year and was an active participant in student life. He graduated with an emphasis on languages.

Upon graduation, he studied in England and in 1971 he finished a BA Degree in literature and history at the University of Manchester. In 1973 he finished an MA degree in the same subjects at University of Exeter.

When he returned to Iceland in 1973, he received a job as a teacher of history at Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík and wrote articles in the Icelandic newspapers. He taught at MR until his death.

He was a friend of Jón Ormur Halldórsson, a political scientist and politician.

Vilmundur was active in setting up radio programs on arts and culture, was a major participant in starting the Helgarpósturinn newspaper, and founded and served as editor of Nýtt land. He also published two poetry books, Myndir og ljóðbrot (1970) and Ljóð (1980).

Vilmundur and his wife lost their son in a fire at a government summer house at Þingvellir on 10 July 1970, where he had been residing with his grandparents prime minister Bjarni Benediktsson and wife who also perished in the blaze.

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