The Swedish Academy announced on Thursday, October 8th the decision to honour 76-year-old Anne Carson for its innovative creativity, which combines classical literature with new forms of contemporary writing.
According to Reuters, the jury praised its works for its artistic courage and creative way by which it has developed dialogue between ancient tradition and modern literature.
Where was the writer when she heard the news?
One of the highlights of the proclamation was the winner's own reaction.
Ingrid Carlberg, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, indicated that Carson was in Iceland when she received a call that changed her career.
According to Reuters, the writer was very surprised by the news and conversation with the Academy representatives was brief.
Carson told them he was in Iceland, listening to the wind.
This simple and poetic response drew the attention of international media, reflecting the author's unusual character.
Who's Anne Carson?
Born in Toronto in 1950, Anne Carson is a poet, essayist, translator, and scholar of classical literature.
It is known for the way it unites poetry, prose, dialogue, and translation into works that often cannot be classified within a single zhanari.
According to the Associated Press, Carson has built a large part of its creativity on the mythology and literature of ancient Greece, interpreting them for contemporary reader.
Among its best known works are"Autobiography of Red", "Eros the Bittersweet", "Float"and"Norma Jeane Baker of Troy".
The book"Autobiography of Red", published in 1998, is a verse novel retaking an ancient Greek myth and turning it into a modern history of love and identity.
While Norma Jeane Baker of Troy"combines the figure of Troy Helen with that of Marilyn Monroe, exploring the way beauty and fame affect women's lives.
A $1.2 million prize
The Nobel Prize for Literature, 2026, is accompanied by a reward of 12 million Swedish corals, equivalent to approximately $1.2 million.
According to the Swedish Academy, the official award-sharing ceremony will take place on 10 December in Stockholm.
Carson succeeds Hungarian writer László Krasznaorkai, who won the Nobel for Literature in 2025.
It also becomes one of the few women who have received this award since its founding in 1901.
An author who has challenged the boundaries of literature
Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, praised the way Carson combines the study of ancient languages with the search for new meanings.
According to the Associated Press, Olsson stressed that her works are freely passed from classical poetry to modern literature and from one artistic form to another.
Carson's selection brings to the limelight an author who for decades has experimented with traditional forms of writing.
At this year's award, the Swedish Academy has chosen to honour a creativity that links the ancient world to modern man's questions and experiences.
