Editing Halldór Laxness (section)

===1920s===
In 1922, Halldór moved into and considered joining the [[Clervaux Abbey|Abbaye Saint-Maurice et Saint-Maur]] in [[Clervaux]], [[Luxembourg]], where the [[Benedictine Order|monks]] followed the rules of [[Saint Benedict of Nursia]]. In 1923 he was baptized and confirmed in the [[Catholic Church]], adopting the surname Laxness after the homestead on which he was raised and adding the name Kiljan (the Icelandic name of [[Ireland|Irish]] martyr [[Saint Killian]]); Laxness practiced self-study, read books, and studied [[French language|French]], [[Latin]], [[theology]] and [[philosophy]].<ref>Hallberg, p. 32</ref> He became a member of a group that prayed for reversion of the [[Nordic countries]] to Catholicism. Laxness wrote of his experiences in the essay ''Kaþólsk viðhorf'' (1925) and published (in fragmentary form) the novel ''Undir Helgahnúk'' (1924, revised 1967).<ref>Hallberg, p.35</ref> In 1927, he published ''[[Vefarinn mikli frá Kasmír]]'', a novel about a young man's conflicts with religion and identity in his quest to become "the most perfect person in the world".<ref>Hallberg, p. 37</ref> Icelandic critic [[:is:Kristján Albertsson|Kristján Albertsson]] wrote of it: 
<blockquote>Finally, finally, a grand novel which towers like a cliff above the flatland of contemporary Icelandic poetry and fiction! Iceland has gained a new literary giant—it is our duty to celebrate the fact with joy!<ref>Albertsson, Krístian, ''Vaka'' 1.3, 1927</ref></blockquote> 
Laxness's religious period did not last long. He lived in the [[United States]] from 1927 to 1929, giving lectures on Iceland and attempting to write screenplays for [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood films]].<ref>Einarsson, Stefán, ''A History of Icelandic Literature'', New York: Johns Hopkins for the American Scandinavian Foundation, 1957, p. 317 OCLC 264046441</ref> During this time he became attracted to [[socialism]]:

<blockquote>[Laxness] did not become a socialist in America from studying manuals of socialism but from watching the starving unemployed in the parks.<ref>{{Nobelprize}}</ref><ref>Laxness, Halldór,''Alþýðubókin'', Þriðja útgáfa (3rd edition), (Reykjavík, 1949), p. 9</ref>

Laxness joined the socialist bandwagon… with a book ''Alþýðubókin'' (''The Book of the People'', 1929) of brilliant burlesque and satirical essays<ref>Einarsson, p. 292 {{OCLC|264046441}}</ref>

Beside the fundamental idea of socialism, the strong sense of Icelandic individuality is also the sustaining element in ''Alþýðubókin''. The two elements are entwined together in characteristic fashion and in their very union give the work its individual character.<ref>Hallberg, p. 60</ref></blockquote>

In 1929 Laxness published an article critical of the U.S. in ''[[Lögberg-Heimskringla|Heimskringla]]'', a Canadian newspaper. This resulted in charges against him, his detention, and the forfeiture of his passport. With the aid of [[Upton Sinclair]] and the [[ACLU]], the charges were dropped and Laxness returned to Iceland.<ref>Guðmundsson, pp. 150–151</ref>