The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Norwegian writer Jon Fosse (64 years old) "for his plays and creative writings which give voice to the seemingly unspeakable".
Notable among Mr. Fosse's works is a series of 7 novels that he named very simply Septologien I-VII (tentatively translated: Series of 7 novels, from volume I to volume VII).
Some of Mr. Fosse's other notable novels include Raudt, svart (Red and Black - 1983), Stengd gitar (Closed Guitar - 1985), Morgon og kveld (Dawn and Night - 2000), Det er Ales (Aliss by the Fire - 2004)...
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Norwegian writer Jon Fosse (Photo: The Guardian).
Commenting on writer Jon Fosse, Mr. Anders Olsson - Chairman of the Nobel Prize for Literature Committee - assessed: "Mr. Jon Fosse's creative range is very wide. He has written about 40 plays, many novels, poetry collections, essays, works for children and even translations. Mr. Fosse combines the original values of Norwegian culture and language with modernity in literary and artistic expression".
For his part, after becoming the owner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Mr. Fosse shared with the Norwegian media: "I am very overwhelmed, and also a bit scared. I consider this award an honor for literature and only promotes the artistic value of literature."
Mr. Fosse said he was surprised when the award called his name, but also... not too surprised, because he has been seen as a potential candidate for the award for the past 10 years.
Those who are knowledgeable about the contemporary world of literature already know him. Therefore, Mr. Fosse had more or less prepared himself mentally, but he never firmly believed that one day, he would be the owner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Jon Fosse's work is full of charm and mystery (Photo: The Guardian).
Fitzcarraldo Publishing (UK) has regularly collaborated with writer Jon Fosse for many years. Mr. Jacques Testard - the head of the publishing house - shared: "Mr. Fosse is an exceptional character, he finds a unique way to write novels. Once you read Jon Fosse's work, even just a few lines, you will immediately see the unique quality that no one else can write like that".
Jacques Testard commented that Jon Fosse's works are full of charm and mystery. In fact, even in the Western world, the writer Jon Fosse is not widely known to literature lovers.
Translator Damion Searls, who has translated several of Fosse's works into English, said he was thrilled that Fosse had won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Now his work will be more widely known.
"The first time I translated Fosse's work into English was 20 years ago. I read the German version of Melancholy and immediately understood that Fosse's work was excellent and needed to be translated into English. It was then that I started learning Norwegian. I have translated nearly 10 of his books," said translator Damion Searls.
At the age of 7, Mr. Fosse almost lost his life in an accident (Photo: The Guardian).
Translators and publishers who have had the opportunity to work with writer Jon Fosse all have very positive comments about him. Mr. Fosse is considered a kind, wise, modest, friendly and good-willed person. His personality in literature, in daily life and in work is always the same.
Mr. Fosse's works are said to bring peace and serenity to readers. His way of interacting and behaving at work and in life is also commented by many close associates to be very similar to what he expresses in literature.
Jon Fosse was born in 1959 in Haugesund, on the west coast of Norway. At the age of 7, he almost lost his life in an accident. Mr. Fosse said that this was the most important experience of his childhood. The "near-death" experience helped him become an artist later in life.
As a teenager, he wanted to be a rock guitarist, but gradually discovered his love for writing.
Mr. Fosse will receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10 this year (Photo: The Guardian).
His first novel, Raudt, svart (Red, Black), appeared in 1983. His first stage play, Og aldri skal vi skiljast (And We Will Never Be Separated), was performed at the National Theatre in Bergen, Norway, in 1994.
Jon Fosse is currently Norway's leading playwright. He has written more than 30 plays. His plays are regularly performed on Norwegian stages, including Namnet (The Name), Vinter (Winter) and Ein sommars dag (A Summer Day).
The seven-volume novel series Septologien I-VII was released to the public between 2019 and 2021. The work revolves around an old painter named Asle. The painter lives alone on the southwest coast of Norway and recalls his entire life.
In the novel, there is also another artist Asle living in the city of Bergen, this one is an alcoholic. Both artists named Asle are immersed in difficult questions about the meaning of existence, death, faith and love...
Jon Fosse currently lives in Norway and Switzerland. He will receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10 this year. The cash prize is 11 million Swedish krona (equivalent to nearly 24.4 billion VND).
Meet Norwegian writer Jon Fosse - winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature (Video: Time).
Source link
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)