Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson was awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. The 76‑year‑old, born in Toronto in 1950, is celebrated for works that blur the lines between poetry, fiction and scholarship.
The Nobel Committee said it had chosen Carson “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.”
Carson, who is currently staying in Iceland, responded to the announcement by joking that the judges were “crazy” for honouring her. “I think they’re all crazy… Well, you know, it’s crazy,” she told public broadcaster RUV.
In a phone call before the public announcement, Ingrid Carlberg, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, told Carson she had been named the laureate. “She was taken by surprise but very happy,” Carlberg said. “I could hear that in her voice.”
Carson’s win brings her a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (about £900,000 or $1.2 million). The award recognises a lifetime’s body of work and is regarded as the most prestigious honour in global literature.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised the achievement, calling it “an extraordinary achievement and a proud moment for Canada.” He highlighted Carson’s wit, imagination and unique style, noting how she has “brought ancient stories to new audiences and transformed the way we think about literature.”
Carson’s notable publications include The Glass Essay, Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse, Nox, Float and The Beauty of the Husband: A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangos. Her 2019 performance piece Norma Jeane Baker of Troy juxtaposed Helen of Troy and Marilyn Monroe, while her 2021 graphic retelling The Trojan Women: A Comic and her translation of Sophocles’ Elektra have been staged internationally.
With more than 30 years as a professor of classics, Carson’s work often draws on Greek literature, and her collaborations with visual artists, choreographers, opera and theatre directors showcase her freedom in challenging literary expectations.
Carson now holds Icelandic citizenship alongside her Canadian nationality and resides in Michigan. The Nobel Prize will likely further cement her influence on contemporary literature worldwide.
