Paul Tenngart, literary scholar, author of "The literary Nobel Prize" (2025)
"Anne Carson was an expected name. But even if the Swedish Academy's choice does not directly open any new doors for world literature, it might open some for a number of new readers. It's fun to have a prize for a poet, I think, and of course I'm super happy for ellerström's sake, this is what the publisher really deserved! In terms of the history of the Nobel Prize, Carson's name confirms the alternation between male and female authors. Another tendency that is confirmed is everything in recent years stronger emphasis on aesthetic expression and existential themes rather than literature's task as historical testimony."
Alexandra Borg, professor and author
"Yay! She's an eccentric Grecist and hyper-cerebral ultra-academic who dares to be popular culture and who writes as if genres don't exist. I like that she's so unorthodox, and that she's not afraid of form. And that she's subtle. Many who approach antiquity do so on antiquity's terms, so to speak, but Carson is brutal. "Eros den bitterljuva", which is in Swedish, I like. Otherwise, I'm very weak for her translation of Sappho, 'If Not, Winter. Fragments of Sappho.'"
Göran Greider, author and critic
"I'm disappointed. Is it really Western, English-language fine culture that needs to be praised? I also think there's too much essay about Anne Carson's poetry. But in any case, I'm glad that Donald Trump might be even more angry at Canada."
Marie Lundström, presenter of "Lundström's book radio" in P1.
"Yes and hooray! A very fun choice. Not only when it comes to improving the Swedish Academy's rickety statistics when it comes to gender distribution, but also very good writing. After all, I have visited her at home in Arbor, Michigan, and I like her dry, clever humor. There is a special humor that comes from the exactness of expression, finding just the right word for an observation. It was also time for a poet."
Emi-Simone Zawall, editor of the journal Essä, translator and critic
"I share the Academy's rationale that Anne Carson is 'developing new forms of contemporary literary expression'. She is a very good writer, even if she is not one of my absolute favorites. I enjoyed her 'Red Autobiography' very much and was touched by 'Nox', which is about her dead brother. We also have a common interest in Proust."
Jonas Eklöf, editor-in-chief of Vi Läser.
"I loved the opening sentence of 'Red Autobiography': He came after Homer and before Gertrude Stein, a difficult period for a poet. I remember finding the book unexpectedly entertaining and free in both thought and form. I've since tried a couple more works without getting stuck. An impeccable but not so exciting choice - and another Nobel laureate writing in English."
Carin Franzén, professor of literary studies and editor-in-chief of Nature & Culture's literary history (2021)
"Finally! I've been hoping for Carson for a long time and submitted a written proposal to the Academy several years ago. She has incredible breadth—in addition to fiction, she's also a brilliant essayist and poet. Her greatness lies in her ability to bring the classical Greek heritage to life and make it relevant to our times. She can be snarky at times, but there's always a great playfulness and humor in her writing."
Aris Fioretos, writer
"Impossible not to be happy for Anne, on behalf of literature! A few years ago I edited a German magazine issue on the theme 'Half five in the afternoon'. Anne sent a drawing and the laconic comment: 'every afternoon at 4.30 in practice trying to swim backwards.' Then I see her. Swimming upstream, full of fire.”
