At 1:00 p.m. today, the Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, Mats Malm, announced that László Krasznahorkai has been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature.
“I’m very happy,” the Hungarian author told Swedish Radio after receiving the news.
Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee, lost his voice and was therefore unable to speak at the Stock Exchange after Mats Malm.
Instead, it was Steve Sem-Sandberg who spoke after the Permanent Secretary and presented the Nobel Committee’s motivation.
The laureate himself was interviewed on P1 after the Swedish Academy’s announcement.
“This is the first day in my life that I’ve received the Nobel Prize,” he says.
He says he entered literature reluctantly.
At first, I just wanted to write a book. I didn’t want to be a writer, because I didn’t want to be anyone.
When he later continued writing books, it was to “correct” his first book, with which he wasn’t entirely satisfied.
László Krasznahorkai says he will definitely come to Stockholm and receive the Nobel Prize.
“I hope my Nobel Prize brings joy to everyone in Hungary.”
