The Nobel Prize committee has awarded Canadian poet, essayist, and translator Anne Carson this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. Carson, 76, is celebrated for works that often cross the boundaries between poetry, fiction, and scholarship. Her writing style has been praised for its bold and inventive approach, which has created new forms for contemporary literature.
The Nobel Prize committee selected Carson "for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature". Carson responded to the news by joking that the judges were "crazy" for honouring her. She told public broadcaster RUV in Iceland, where she is currently staying, that she was surprised but happy about the award.
The Nobel Prize is awarded for a lifetime's body of work and is regarded as the most prestigious award in global literature, with the winner receiving 12 million Swedish kronor (£900,000, $1.2m). Ingrid Carlberg, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, said she had broken the news to Carson on the phone shortly before the public announcement. Carson was taken by surprise but was very happy, according to Carlberg.
Born in Toronto in 1950, Carson lives in Michigan and has also held Icelandic citizenship since 2022. Her notable works include The Glass Essay, Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse, Nox, Float, and The Beauty of the Husband: A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangos. Carson's writing is often inspired by Greek literature, and her translations have often given a contemporary twist to ancient works.
Anders Olsson, chairman of the Swedish Academy's Nobel committee for Literature, praised the way Carson has "broken away from lyrical poetry bound to the narrative self and inspired new forms of contemporary literature". He said her method of writing leads to playful and ironic works that move not only between classical and modern poetry but also between different genres and art forms.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Carson's win was "an extraordinary achievement and a proud moment for Canada". He wrote on social media that her works feature "wit, imagination, and a style entirely her own". Carney added that Carson has brought ancient stories to new audiences and transformed the way people think about literature.
Carson has been a professor of classics for more than 30 years, and her collaborations with visual artists, choreographers, and opera and theatre directors demonstrate the freedom with which she relates to literary expectations and rule systems. Her work has had outstanding importance for the international art and literature scene since the 1990s, according to Olsson.
Key points
- Anne Carson is the latest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded for her bold and inventive works.
- Carson's writing style has been praised for its unique approach, which crosses boundaries between poetry, fiction, and scholarship.
- The Nobel Prize in Literature is regarded as the most prestigious award in global literature, with the winner receiving 12 million Swedish kronor.
