Anne Carson: A "bold and innovative" Canadian poet wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
Author, Ian Youngs
Role, cultural affairs correspondent
Published 2 minutes ago
Reading time: 2 minutes
Canadian poet, writer and translator Anne Carson won this year's Nobel Prize in Literature.
Carson, 76 years old, is known for her works that often cross the lines between poetry, fiction, and scientific research.
The Nobel Prize committee said it selected Carson in recognition of her "bold and innovative works that have created new forms for contemporary literature, through a playful dialogue with classical traditions."
Carson joked with the jury members, calling them "crazy" for giving her the award. “I think they're all crazy... Well, you know, it's crazy,” she told Icelandic Public Radio, from Iceland, where she currently lives.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded in recognition of the entire literary career, and is considered one of the most famous literary awards in the world. The winner will receive 12 million Swedish krona ($1.2 million).
Ingrid Karlberg, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, said she informed Carson of her win by phone shortly before the official announcement.
Carlberg added: “She only had time to tell me that she is currently in Iceland, where she is listening to the sound of the wind.”
She continued: "I was surprised by the news, but she was very happy, and I could sense that in the tone of her voice."
Skip the most read and keep reading
Most read
Most read end
Carson was born in Toronto in 1950, lives in the US state of Michigan, and obtained Icelandic citizenship in 2022.
Anders Olsson, Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature of the Swedish Academy, praised Carson's style, through which she "liberated herself from lyric poetry based on the narrative subjectivity, and was inspired by new forms in contemporary literature."
He said: "This style has produced works that are fun and sarcastic, moving not only between classical and modern poetry, but also between various literary genres and arts."
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described Carson's victory as "an exceptional achievement and a proud moment for Canada."
Carney wrote on social media that her work is characterized by “intelligence, imagination, and a unique style unlike any other.”
“It reintroduced ancient stories to a new audience and changed the way we look at literature,” he added.
"extremely important"
Skip the podcast and keep reading
Worth paying attention to
An in-depth explanation of the most prominent events and topics, to help you understand the most important variables around you and their impact on your life
Episodes
End podcast
Carson's notable works include The Glass Essay, The Autobiography of Red: A Verse Novel, Knox, Float, and The Beauty of the Husband: An Imaginative Essay on 29 Tango.
In 2019, through her performance work Norma Jean Baker Troy, she established a connection between two famous beauties from two different historical eras: Helen of Troy and Marilyn Monroe.
In 2021, she released Trojan Women: An Illustrated Story, an illustrated retelling of the ancient story of Euripides; Her translation of Sophocles' Electra, starring Brie Larson, was also performed in London last year.
She has been a professor of classics for more than 30 years, and her work is often inspired by Greek literature.
Her translations often add a contemporary touch to ancient works.
