Hello Gentle Reader
It is the last day, the last day of theories. The Nobel Prize for Literature, will be announced tomorrow; October 10 2013, at 1:00pm Central European Time.
At the beginning of the year, there was a lack of speculation. In fact, Ladbrokes went back to the usual suspects, of who should win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Once again the perennial favourite, Haruki Murakami was at the forefront. Behind, Murakami, came the industriously prolific American author Joyce Carol Oats. After which came the usual suspects. The Syrian poet Adunis; the Hungarian door stop writer, Peter Nadas, South Korean zen poet Ko Un. However, early on this year, it was though probable that a women writer would win this year. Women writers have been, overlooked at times; and are grossly, unrepresented in the Nobel Prize for Literature, canon.
Who could be possible women candidates? I thought of course of the Greek short story writer, poet, and novelist Ersi Sotiropoulos. Then, another thought of another Greek writer, who is only a poet: Kiki Dimoula. Both authoress would offer, an interesting perspective as Nobel Laureates in Literature, with the crisis in Greece; and seeing that both previous Greek writers were poets, a prose writer would shake up that tradition; but also a Greek writer had not been awarded since nineteen-seventy nine. Neither one of these authors appeared on the Ladbrokes list. Much to my disappointment. Still I have hopes for both in the coming futures.
Many speculated in the beginning North African writer, feminist, and film maker Assia Djebar, to be a heated contender, along with Italian novelist, short story writer, and playwright Dacia Maraini. Both authors were hot contenders, in their speculation, earlier this season.
However in the past few days, speculation has increased, and intensified. Belarusian, non-fiction writer, and journalist Svetlana Alexievich, whose most famous book “Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster,” has skipped, ran, and jumped down the betting list. Belarus does not have a Nobel Laureate in Literature; and Alexievich represents, a literary model, that is generally an outsider in the Nobel. Many of the authors write memories, and essays, along with their novels or poems; very few have exclusively written in the journalist/non-fiction format – with the exception of the most recent Laureate Elias Canetti. Horace Engdahl the former Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, had once stated that the authors W.G. Sebald, Jacques Derrida, and Ryszard Kapuściński were all good and noteworthy potential laureates, if it wasn’t for their untimely deaths. Kapuściński was a famous and noteworthy non-fiction writer, and journalist. Speculation holds Svetlana Alexievich in those same regards.
The next talked about author, this year is Jon Fosse. The Norwegian playwright’s, catapult from farther speculation or just mentions, to a serious contender, briefly shut down Ladbrokes, to recalculate and reconfigure. Fosse’s is primarily known as a playwright; a northern Beckett or Brecht. His plays focus on the inability of individuals to communicate, as well as isolation, and alienation. His works is existential and suspenseful. The works are absurd, chilling, and revered and performed throughout the world. Fosse however has also written poetry and prose.
The final author, who has been the buzz, is Alice Munro. Alice Munro is a unique author has she writes primarily short stories. She has not written a novel. Though “The Beggar Maid,” also known as “Who Do You Think You Are?” was considered a novel in stories, and was even nominated for the Booker Prize in Nineteen-eighty. Throughout the Nobel Prize for Literature’s history, there has not been an author awarded the prize for short fiction alone. The closest to this definition would be the first Russian author to receive the prize Ivan Bunin, in nineteen-thirty three. Bunin however also wrote novels, and they were often some of his most renowned works. Alice Munro herself would be the first Nobel Laureate, to be recognized for her achievements, primarily in the short story form. She would also be the first Canadian author to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
There you have it Gentle Reader. The last round up. The last bit of speculation. In a few hours, the Nobel Prize for Literature will be awarded. For now only the Swedish Academy knows, who will win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Personally, I am looking for redemption, from last year’s mistake. I am also looking for a bit of a surprise. But who is not looking for a surprise when it comes to the Nobel.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
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And As Always
Stay Well Read
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M. Mary
