Halldór Kiljan Laxness (born Halldór Guðjónsson, 23 April 1902 – 8 February 1998) was an Icelandic writer and winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.

He authored a vast array of literary works including novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues, and short stories. His writing was influenced by prominent figures such as August Strindberg, Sigmund Freud, Knut Hamsun, Sinclair Lewis, Upton Sinclair, Bertolt Brecht, and Ernest Hemingway.

Laxness began his literary career at the young age of 17 and published over 60 books. Originally confirmed as a Catholic in 1923, he later moved away from religion and showed sympathy towards Communist politics, a theme that is evident in his novels World Light and Independent People.