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The world-renowned Nobel Prize in Literature for the year 2025 has been granted to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, as declared by the Swedish Academy.

The Committee commended the author's "compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of cataclysmic terror, reasserts the force of art."

An Esteemed Career of Apocalyptic Fiction

Krasznahorkai is known for his dark, melancholic books, which have earned many awards, such as the recent National Book Award for international writing and the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.

Several of his works, including his titles Satantango and another major work, have been adapted into movies.

Initial Success

Originating in the Hungarian town of Gyula in 1954, Krasznahorkai first gained recognition with his mid-80s debut novel his seminal novel, a grim and captivating depiction of a disintegrating village society.

The work would eventually earn the Man Booker International Prize honor in translation many years later, in 2013.

A Unique Writing Approach

Frequently labeled as postmodernist, Krasznahorkai is renowned for his long, winding prose (the 12 chapters of the book each are a single paragraph), bleak and melancholic subjects, and the kind of persistent intensity that has led literary experts to compare him to Kafka, Melville, and Gogol.

This work was widely adapted into a extended motion picture by filmmaker Béla Tarr, with whom Krasznahorkai has had a long creative partnership.

"The author is a great writer of epic tales in the central European literary tradition that traces back to Franz Kafka to Bernhard, and is defined by the absurd and grotesque exaggeration," commented the Nobel chair, chair of the Nobel panel.

He described Krasznahorkai’s style as having "evolved into … smooth structure with lengthy, intricate sentences devoid of full stops that has become his hallmark."

Expert Opinions

Susan Sontag has described the author as "the modern Hungarian master of the apocalyptic," while the writer W.G. Sebald applauded the wide appeal of his vision.

Only a few of Krasznahorkai’s novels have been published in English. The reviewer James Wood once wrote that his books "circulate like rare currency."

International Inspiration

Krasznahorkai’s professional journey has been influenced by exploration as much as by literature. He first departed from socialist Hungary in the late 80s, staying a year in the city for a fellowship, and later was inspired from Eastern Asia – especially China and Mongolia – for books such as one of his titles, and Destruction and Sorrow Beneath the Heavens.

While developing War and War, he explored across the continent and resided temporarily in the legendary poet's New York home, noting the renowned Beat poet's support as crucial to completing the novel.

Author's Perspective

Asked how he would describe his work in an interview, Krasznahorkai answered: "Letters; then from these characters, words; then from these words, some brief phrases; then further lines that are longer, and in the primary exceptionally extended paragraphs, for the duration of decades. Elegance in writing. Fun in darkness."

On readers discovering his books for the initial encounter, he continued: "Should there be individuals who have not yet read my works, I would not suggest any specific title to read to them; on the contrary, I’d suggest them to step out, sit down in a place, perhaps by the edge of a stream, with no obligations, no thoughts, just remaining in silence like boulders. They will in time come across an individual who has previously read my books."

Award Background

Before the announcement, oddsmakers had listed the top contenders for this year's honor as an avant-garde author, an innovative Chinese novelist, and Krasznahorkai.

The Nobel Prize in Literature has been presented on 117 prior instances since 1901. Recent laureates have included Ernaux, the musician, Gurnah, the poet, Peter Handke and Olga Tokarczuk. The previous year's honoree was the South Korean writer, the from South Korea author most famous for her acclaimed novel.

Krasznahorkai will officially be presented with the award and diploma in a event in December in Stockholm, Sweden.

Updates to come