Fosse, the Notable Nordic Author, Wins Nobel Prize in Literature
STOCKHOLM (AP) – Jon Fosse, an esteemed figure in Nordic literature known for his diverse body of work encompassing plays, novels, and children’s books, was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. The honor was bestowed upon Fosse for his ability to “give voice to the unsayable.”
Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel literature committee, highlighted the deep connection Fosse’s writings have with his Norwegian background, both in terms of language and nature.
When informed about his win, Fosse expressed his overwhelming gratitude and stated, “I see this as an award to literature that is committed solely to being literature, without any other considerations.” The statement was released by his publishing house, Samlaget.
Fosse, widely recognized as one of Norway’s most-performed dramatists, has an extensive repertoire consisting of around 40 plays, as well as novels, short stories, children’s books, poetry, and essays. Praising his innovative contributions to the field, the Swedish Academy emphasized that he uses his plays and prose to convey the unutterable.
Mats Malm, permanent secretary of the academy, contacted Fosse by phone to deliver the news. Fosse, who was driving in the countryside at the time, assured Malm that he would safely make his way home.
Fosse joins the ranks of three other Norwegian Nobel laureates in literature: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1903), Knut Hamsun (1920), and Sigrid Undset (1928).
Fosse’s work “A New Name: Septology VI-VII,” regarded as his magnum opus, was a finalist for the International Booker Prize in 2022.
Every Nobel Prize comes with a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) from the bequest of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. In addition, winners receive an 18-carat gold medal and diploma during the December award ceremonies.
Notably, French author Annie Ernaux won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year for her courage and insightful portrayal of her small-town upbringing in the Normandy region of northwest France.
Ernaux’s victory as the 17th female laureate stirred conversations about the need for greater diversity in the selection process, as the Nobel literature prize has been criticized for its Eurocentric and male-dominated tendencies.
In 2018, the prize was postponed due to sexual abuse allegations involving the Swedish Academy, which led to the reformulation of the institution. However, criticism resurfaced when the 2019 award was given to Peter Handke of Austria, who has been accused of downplaying Serbian war crimes.
Reporting from The Hague, Netherlands: Corder
For more coverage on the Nobel Prizes, visit https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes
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