Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2025. The Nobel Committee recognized him for his “compelling and visionary oeuvre” that emphasizes the importance of art amid societal collapse. This marks a significant moment as Krasznahorkai is the first Hungarian laureate since Imre Kertész won the prize in 2002.
László Krasznahorkai’s Acclaimed Career
The 71-year-old Krasznahorkai has made his mark with several dystopian novels. His literary works often resonate with melancholic themes and complex, winding prose. Among his notable achievements are the Man Booker International Prize in 2015 and the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2019. His writing has inspired cinematic adaptations, notably through collaborations with Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr.
Key Works and Collaborations
- Sátántangó (1985)
- The Melancholy of Resistance (1989)
- Damnation (1988)
- Sátántangó (1994)
- Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
- The Turin Horse (2011)
Krasznahorkai has been instrumental in several film projects, providing screenplays that complement Tarr’s unique style. His long-standing partnership with Tarr has resulted in memorable adaptations that convey his literary brilliance to the screen.
Recognition and Impact
The director of Editions Cambourakis, Frédéric Cambourakis, commended Krasznahorkai, calling him one of Europe’s greatest writers. He also expressed appreciation for Joëlle Dufeuilly, the author’s translator, crediting her for effectively capturing Krasznahorkai’s voice in French literature.
About the Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 117 times, recognizing a total of 121 winners since its inception. The award includes a monetary prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately €1 million), an 18-carat gold medal, and a diploma. The announcement of this prize follows the 2025 Nobel awards in medicine, physics, and chemistry.
Krasznahorkai joins an esteemed group of past laureates, including renowned figures such as Ernest Hemingway and Toni Morrison. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be recognized soon, and the final prize, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, will be announced shortly thereafter. The official Nobel Prize ceremonies are scheduled for December 10, commemorating the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.
