Norwegian author Jon Fosse wins the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature

Norwegian author Jon Fosse, 64 years old, won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature thanks to his "innovative plays and prose, giving voice to the unspeakable".

At the ceremony taking place at 1pm on October 6 (Stockholm time, ie 6pm - Hanoi time), Anders Olsson, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, honored Jon Fosse . The author will receive a reward of 11 million Swedish krona (about 991,000 USD).

The committee said of Fosse : "His voluminous oeuvre, written in Norwegian and spanning many genres, includes countless plays, novels, poetry collections, essays, children's books and manuscripts. Today, he is one of the most widely performed playwrights in the world, and he is also increasingly recognized in the field of prose.

A representative of the publishing house Jacques Testard - where Fosse's novels are printed - said when hearing the news: "He is an excellent writer who has found a very unique way to write novels. Like the Norwegian editor Cecilie His Seiness said in a recent interview, "If you open any of Jon's books and read a few lines, it couldn't have been written by anyone else." Jacques Testard commented that Fosse's novels are magical and mysterious, originating from the scenery of the western fjords where he grew up.

Writer Jon Fosses. (Photo: Boris Roessler).

Jon Fosse was born in Haugesund, Norway in 1959. Mr. Raudt 's first novel , svart (Red, Black) was published in 1983. In 1989, he was highly appreciated for his novel Naustet (Boat House). He then went on to write his first play in 1992 - Nokon kjem til å kome (Someone will come). In 1994, the play Og aldri skal vi skiljast was performed at the National Theater in Bergen.

On the Nobel Committee's Twitter , the organizers introduced Jon Fosse as writing novels in the style of "Fosse minimalism". This can be clearly seen in the book Stengd gitar (1985), the author exploited hidden corners from everyday situations in life, when people are faced with hesitation. Fosse is said to "combine his linguistic roots and his natural Norwegian background".

He composed in Nynorsk (also known as New Norwegian). It is one of two standard languages ​​within Norwegian, spoken by about 27% of the population. This language was created by Ivar Aasen in the mid-19th century, to provide more options when Danish was popular in Norway at that time.

Although still unfamiliar to Asian readers, Jon Fosse is quite famous in Europe. He is the living playwright whose work is the most performed in Europe, translated into 40 different languages. The hotel in Oslo in Norway has a suite of rooms named after him. According to The Guardian , since 2013, many fans of the writer have expected him to win the Nobel. However, that year's award was given to Alice Munro. In addition to writing plays and novels, Fosse is also a translator.

Before the results were announced, he ranked second on the betting list of bookmaker NicerOdds, with odds of 5/1 (one to five). Many bookmakers predict that Chinese author - Tan Tuyet - will win the prize. Critics commented that Tan Tuyet's literature reflects a strong sense of feminism.

Annie Ernaux - the French writer who won the Nobel last year - was ranked first on the prediction list a year earlier. She was honored by the Academy: "With courage and a sharp intelligence, she exposed the roots, estrangement and limitations of the collective through personal memories."

The Nobel Prize in Literature is one of six categories of the Nobel Prize, awarded to authors from any country, according to the will of chemist Alfred Nobel. The Swedish Academy will select the winner. They never give any indication of the likely winner until the results are announced. The shortlist of candidates will be revealed 50 years later. The prize was first awarded to French poet - Sully Prudhomme - in 1901. The Swedish Academy was founded by King Gustav III in 1786, and is responsible for making decisions on the Nobel Prize in Literature, following the will of the financier. The assistant is Mr. Alfred Nobel.