Intelligence Squared How does a nation’s language shape its identity? Hannah Kent on her year in Iceland
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Nov 17, 2025 
Hannah Kent, an acclaimed Australian novelist known for her works like Burial Rites, explores her deep connection to Iceland in this discussion. She shares how her first trip at 17 shaped her identity as a writer. Kent reveals how learning Icelandic transformed her sense of belonging and opened her to the culture's rich history. She reflects on the creativity sparked by her homesickness and how storytelling bridges personal and communal experiences, further underlining Iceland's unique influence on her literary journey.
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Box Of Memories Sparked The Memoir
- Hannah recounts receiving a box of memorabilia from her mother that reignited memories of her exchange year in Iceland.
- Revisiting those journals during lockdown pushed her to write a memoir about how Iceland shaped her identity as a writer.
Homesickness Can Be A Split Belonging
- Hannah describes homesickness as a split belonging where you feel at home in two places but never fully settled.
- She suggests learning another language can create a version of yourself tied to that other place.
Learn Language To Access Culture
- Learn a language to access culture, history, and values embedded in words and proverbs.
- Use language learning to deepen empathy and understand a people's identity beyond literal translation.
