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The coveted Nobel Prize in Literature for this year has been bestowed upon from Hungary author László Krasznahorkai, as declared by the committee.

The Committee praised the 71-year-old's "gripping and imaginative oeuvre that, amidst cataclysmic terror, reasserts the force of the arts."

A Renowned Path of Dystopian Fiction

Krasznahorkai is known for his dystopian, somber books, which have garnered many awards, including the 2019 National Book Award for international writing and the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.

A number of of his novels, notably his titles Satantango and another major work, have been adapted into feature films.

Early Beginnings

Hailing in Gyula, Hungary in the mid-1950s, Krasznahorkai first rose to prominence with his mid-80s debut novel Satantango, a grim and mesmerising depiction of a collapsing countryside settlement.

The book would eventually secure the Man Booker International Prize recognition in the English language decades after, in 2013.

A Distinctive Prose Technique

Commonly referred to as avant-garde, Krasznahorkai is famous for his long, winding sentences (the twelve chapters of his novel each comprise a one paragraph), apocalyptic and somber themes, and the kind of relentless intensity that has led critics to compare him to Gogol, Melville and Kafka.

Satantango was widely transformed into a extended movie by filmmaker Béla Tarr, with whom Krasznahorkai has had a long working relationship.

"Krasznahorkai is a significant writer of epic tales in the Central European tradition that traces back to Kafka to Thomas Bernhard, and is defined by absurdism and bizarre extremes," stated the Nobel chair, leader of the Nobel panel.

He portrayed Krasznahorkai’s writing as having "developed towards … flowing syntax with extended, meandering sentences without full stops that has become his hallmark."

Critical Acclaim

Sontag has referred to the author as "the contemporary Hungarian master of end-times," while WG Sebald praised the universality of his vision.

Only a few of Krasznahorkai’s books have been translated into English translation. The literary critic James Wood once wrote that his books "circulate like precious items."

International Inspiration

Krasznahorkai’s literary path has been shaped by journeys as much as by his writing. He first exited communist Hungary in 1987, residing a period in West Berlin for a fellowship, and later found inspiration from Asia – particularly Asian nations – for books such as The Prisoner of Urga, and another novel.

While working on War and War, he journeyed extensively across the continent and resided temporarily in Allen Ginsberg’s New York apartment, noting the renowned writer's assistance as vital to completing the novel.

Krasznahorkai on His Work

Questioned how he would describe his work in an interview, Krasznahorkai said: "Letters; then from these characters, vocabulary; then from these terms, some short sentences; then additional phrases that are lengthier, and in the main exceptionally extended paragraphs, for the period of 35 years. Elegance in language. Enjoyment in despair."

On fans encountering his writing for the initial encounter, he noted: "For any individuals who are new to my novels, I would refrain from advising a particular book to explore to them; on the contrary, I’d suggest them to venture outside, rest somewhere, possibly by the side of a brook, with no obligations, no thoughts, just being in tranquility like stones. They will eventually encounter someone who has previously read my works."

Nobel Prize Context

Before the announcement, bookmakers had ranked the frontrunners for this year's prize as the Chinese writer, an experimental from China author, and the Hungarian.

The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded on over a hundred prior instances since the early 20th century. Recent recipients have included Ernaux, Bob Dylan, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Glück, Peter Handke and Olga Tokarczuk. Last year’s recipient was Han Kang, the South Korean novelist most famous for her acclaimed novel.

Krasznahorkai will ceremonially receive the award and diploma in a function in the month of December in the Swedish capital.

Additional details forthcoming