The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2023 is awarded to the Norwegian author Jon Fosse, “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”. Announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 to Jon Fosse, presented by Mats Malm, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, on 5 October 2023.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman “for their discoveries concerning base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.”
About Jon Fosse
Jon Olav Fosse (born 29 September 1959) is a Norwegian author, translator, and playwright. Fosse’s work spans over seventy novels, poems, children’s books, essays, and theatre plays, which have been translated into over fifty languages. The most performed Norwegian playwright after Henrik Ibsen, and currently —with productions presented on over a thousand stages worldwide — Fosse is one of the most performed contemporary playwrights globally.
Raised in the small coastal town of Strandebarm, Fosse began his artistic journey as a poet in the 1980s before transitioning to playwriting in the 1990s, a move that brought him international recognition. His literary works, known for their sparse dialogue and intense focus on existential and psychological themes, have been translated into numerous languages. Some of his major works, such as “The Name,” “Sleepwalking,” “Someone Is Going to Come,” and “I Am the Wind,” have earned him critical acclaim. Fosse’s ability to delve deeply into the human psyche, explore identity, and blur the lines between reality and dreams has solidified his place as one of the most influential contemporary Scandinavian writers, with his work continuing to resonate with audiences around the world.
Jon Fosse books
Jon Fosse, the acclaimed Norwegian author and playwright, has crafted a remarkable body of work that delves into profound aspects of the human experience. His “Melancholia” trilogy is a standout, comprising “Melancholia I” (1999), “Melancholia II” (2002), and “Melancholia III” (2006). These novels explore themes of depression, solitude, and the complexities of human relationships. Fosse’s ability to dive into the depths of the human psyche is further showcased in his septology series, with “The Other Name: Septology I – II” (2019) and “I Is Another: Septology III – IV” (2020). These books examine the intricacies of identity, self-discovery, and the fundamental questions of existence. Additionally, his novel “The Winter” (1994) stands as a poetic and introspective work, offering readers a profound exploration of a man’s confrontation with his inner self and the world around him. Jon Fosse’s writings continue to captivate and resonate with readers worldwide, making him a significant figure in contemporary literature.