Anne Carson wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson, 76, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy recognised her work for blending poetry, fiction and classical scholarship, describing her oeuvre as "bold and inventive." The prize is worth 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately £900,000 or $1.2 million.
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Anne Carson, a 76-year-old Canadian poet, essayist and translator, has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. She is celebrated for works that frequently cross the boundaries between poetry, fiction and scholarship, often drawing on classical Greek and Roman sources.
The Nobel Prize committee selected her "for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature." The Nobel Prize in Literature is regarded as the most prestigious award in global literature. The prize comes with 12 million Swedish kronor, which is equivalent to roughly £900,000 or $1.2 million.
Ingrid Carlberg, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, informed Carson of the award by phone shortly before the public announcement. Carson was in Iceland at the time. She reacted with characteristic humour, telling public broadcaster RUV that the judges were "crazy" for honouring her. Carlberg reported that Carson described herself as "taken by surprise but very happy," and mentioned that she had been "listening to the wind" at that moment.
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