He studied comparative literature and philosophy at the University of Iceland.
In 2008, his book Konur ('Women') received great critical and commercial success and was nominated for the Nordic Council literature prize.
Current affairs, particularly the 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis, are prominent in his work from 2008 onwards, such as Konur and Hálendið: Skáldsaga.
[3] Steinar Bragi is sometimes considered to be in the "new wave" of younger Icelandic authors influenced by popular culture and in his case the grotesque, with influences from horror writers such as H. P.
[5] During the transition, his novel Konur was accordingly first published by the avant-garde collective Nýhil before being republished by Mál og menning.