Jon Olav Fosse, a Norwegian playwright and author took the Nobel Prize in literature, which was announced today. The Nobel Prize in literature includes notable figures such as Toni Morrison, Ernest Hemingway, and Jean-Paul Sartre, who declined the prize in 1964. Jon Fosse was added to this prestigious accolade, for his “innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable,” according to the Swedish Academy.
Hailing from Haugesund on Norway’s west coast, Fosse was born in 1959 and spent his formative years in Strandebarm. At the age of seven, he came perilously close to losing his life in an accident, an event he regarded as the most pivotal experience of his childhood and one that essentially moulded him into an artist.
Fosse is renowned for his literary works including ‘Red, Black’ (1983), ‘Boathouse’ (1989), and ‘Melancholy I and II’ (1995 and 1996), in addition to a substantial repertoire of over 40 plays, along with essays and children’s books. Fosse employs Nynorsk, also known as New Norwegian, which is one of the two officially recognized versions of the Norwegian language. However, it is utilized by only approximately 10 per cent of the nation’s populace – a political act in itself.
Prior to being honoured with the Nobel Prize, Fosse had already established himself as an acclaimed writer. In 2003, he was bestowed with the title of chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite in France, and in 2007, he received the Swedish Academy Nordic prize. In 2010, he received the Ibsen Award, which was particularly fitting considering he has been referred to as the ‘new Henrik Ibsen.’ Additionally, he was recognized with the European Prize for Literature in 2014. The committee has also lauded his writing style, which has become popularly known as ‘Fosse minimalism’.
Mats Malm, the academy’s permanent secretary, disclosed the award in Stockholm. In a statement to the news agency Reuters, Fosse expressed his feelings on receiving the award, saying, “I am overwhelmed, and somewhat frightened. I see this as an award to the literature that first and foremost aims to be literature, without other considerations.”
Nobel Laureates for 2023
This past Wednesday, in an announcement made earlier than scheduled, the Nobel Prize in chemistry was presented to three scientists based in the United States: Moungi Bawendi from MIT, Louis Brus from Columbia University, and Alexei Ekimov from Nanocrystals Technology Inc. Their recognition stemmed from their groundbreaking work with minuscule particles known as quantum dots – nanoparticles capable of emitting exceptionally bright, colourful light. These quantum dots find applications in various facets of everyday life, including electronics and medical imaging.
On Tuesday, the Nobel Prize in physics was granted to Anne L’Huillier from France and Sweden, Pierre Agostini from France, and Ferenc Krausz, originally from Hungary. They were recognized for providing humanity with its initial fleeting glimpse into the ultra-fast realm of spinning electrons.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, American scientists Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their pivotal discoveries that paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Each of the awards includes a monetary prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (equivalent to approximately ₹8 crore). This funding originates from a legacy established by the founder of the Nobel Prize, the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who passed away in 1896. Recipients also are presented with an 18-carat gold medal and a diploma when they attend the Nobel Prize ceremonies on December 10 to receive their awards.
The Nobel Peace Prize is scheduled to be presented on Friday, and the Nobel Prize in economics will follow on Monday.
