Jon Fosse with the Nobel Prize in Literature. “Gives expression to the unsaid”

Jon Fosse, who is a postmodernist, was recognized “for innovative plays and prose that give expression to the unspeakable.” “There is great warmth in his work, and humor and naive sensitivity are present in his great paintings about human experiences,” said a representative of the Swedish Academy.

Norwegian Jon Fosse receives the Nobel Prize in Literature

Jon Fosse was born on September 29, 1959 in Haugesund. He is a Norwegian writer and playwright, considered one of the most outstanding contemporary Norwegian playwrights. He writes in Nynorsk (one of the two official writing standards of the Norwegian language). He is the author of novels, poetry, children’s books, essays and plays. He also translates other authors into Nynorsk.

He made his debut in 1983 with the novel “Raudt, svart” (“Red, Black”). His first theater play “Og aldri skal vi skiljast” (“And we will never be separated”) was performed in 1994. His magnum opus is called “Septologia”, consisting of seven parts. “Eit nytt namn – Septologen VI-VII” was on the short list of nominees for the Booker Prize in 2022, and the writer himself has been mentioned for years as one of the favorites to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In Poland, ArtRage Publishing House published “The Second Name” in September this year. This is the first of three volumes included in “Septologia”, it contains two of the seven parts. Subsequent volumes will be published year after year. Iwona Zimnicka is responsible for the translation.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded

So far, there have been 17 women among the winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, including two Poles: Wisława Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk.

Nobel Prizes have been awarded since 1901. During a special ceremony attended by the Swedish royal couple, each winner is awarded a gold medal with the image of the prize founder and a specially calligraphed diploma. There is also a cash prize. For years, the amount was 1 million Swedish kronor (i.e. almost PLN 447,000), but in 2020 the Nobel Foundation increased this amount to 10 million kroner.