The untold story of how one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic has shaped the world for centuries.The history of Iceland began 1,200 years ago, when a frustrated Viking captain and his useless navigator ran aground in the middle of the North Atlantic. Suddenly, the island was no longer just a layover for the Arctic tern. Instead, it became a nation whose diplomats and musicians, sailors and soldiers, volcanoes and flowers, quietly altered the globe forever. How Iceland Changed the World takes readers on a tour of history, showing them how Iceland played a pivotal role in events as diverse as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, and the foundation of Israel. Again and again, one humble nation has found itself at the frontline of historic events, shaping the world as we know it, How Iceland Changed the World paints a lively picture of just how it all happened.

POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATION: Tourism to Iceland has exploded in recent years, sparking a new level of interest in its unique history and culture.UNIQUE IN THE MARKET: How Iceland Changed the World is the first popular history of Iceland written by a native to be published in the English Language.AN EXPERT AUTHOR: In addition to teaching at the University of Iceland, Egill Bjarnason is the Associated Press's Iceland correspondant, and has worked for years as a fixer for international news outlets, so he has made a career out of translating Icelandic language, history, and culture to the rest of the world.