Nobel Literature Prize a Stark Reflection of Our Times,Says Critic
Stockholm,Sweden - The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai feels dissonant with Alfred Nobel’s vision of work benefiting humanity,according to Swedish critic Björn Wiman. While acknowledging Krasznahorkai’s literary merit - especially his latest novel, Herscht 07769, a “staggering and bizarre story of right-wing extremism and vandalized Bach statues” translated by Daniel Gustafsson - Wiman argues the prize recognizes a writer deeply immersed in a world perpetually on the brink of collapse.
Krasznahorkai’s work, Wiman writes, embodies the rise of “authoritarian cryptofascism” seen in Hungary and increasingly across the globe. His novels actively dismantle the ”false claims” of right-wing nationalism, portraying a history devoid of glory and filled only with “losers.” This bleak outlook, however, paradoxically allows for a coexistence of hope and despair, mirroring the complex realities of the present moment.
The award arrives alongside other Nobel Prizes offering glimmers of optimism – a potential path to peace in the Middle East and a breakthrough in carbon capture technology. Wiman notes the inherent contradiction, stating, “Just as absurd and contradictory is the world. Just as full of opportunities. Ten years ago, it had only been possible in an apocalyptic novel by László Krasznahorkai.”
Wiman concludes with a wry observation, suggesting the only missing piece is a Nobel Peace Prize for Donald Trump.
