VOA新闻杂志2023--Norwegian Writing about Life’s ‘Basic Choices’ Wins Nobel in Literature

Norwegian Writing about Life’s ‘Basic Choices’ Wins Nobel in Literature

The Swedish Academy¹ awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Literature to a Norwegian known for considering life's "basic choices" in his 40 years of work.

Sixty-four-year-old Jon Fosse was first published in the 1980s and became well known in the 1990s. His works² include a play called Someone Is Going to Come which was performed to praise in Paris in 1999. Later, he wrote a series of books called the Septology, which he finished in 2021. The last part of Septology, called A New Name, was a finalist for the Booker Prize in 2022.

Fosse created plays, books and children's books. He also worked on a translation of the Bible³ into Norwegian. He is known for writing in the Nynorsk language, which is understandable to all Norwegians. But it is used by only 10 percent of the nation's 5.4 million people.

Swedish Academy member Anders Olsson said Fosse's work has had a "universal impact⁴." The Academy also called his work "innovative⁵" and noted⁶ his ability to "give voice to the unsayable." The group explained that his books discuss life's "deepest feelings" about things like life and death.

Fosse said he had been thinking he might be awarded the prize for the last 10 years, but he was still surprised to get the phone call on Thursday.

He told a Swedish broadcaster: "I've been part of the discussion⁷ for 10 years and have...prepared myself for 10 years that it could happen."

He told a Norwegian broadcaster he has no more prizes left to win. "Everything will be downhill from now on." He noted that he started writing as a boy and his first work came out 40 years ago. "I don't plan to compete with myself," he said. The writer added he will celebrate the prize "calmly" with his family.

Fosse said 1969 Nobel literature prize-winner Samuel Beckett of Ireland influenced his writing style. Beckett wrote the play Waiting for Godot.

Guy Puzey is a teacher of Scandinavian studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland⁸. He called Fosse's writing "sparse⁹" and said his "simple expressions...take on a lot deeper meaning..."

The Associated Press notes critics might call Fosse a "safe" choice for his "highbrow" writing only known to people in "small literary¹⁰ circles."

The Academy has been criticized¹¹ for being too centered on men from Northern Europe and North America. That includes criticism¹² from Annie Ernaux, last year's winner. Only 17 of 119 winners have been women.

Recent winners who have been popular writers include Mario Vargas Llosa of Peru, Kazuo Ishiguro of Japan, and Alice Munro of Canada. The Academy got a lot of attention for choosing American musician Bob Dylan in 2016.

Supporters say recent winners, including Dylan, show that the Nobel committee is interested in writers who are both popular and praised by critics.

Fosse's publisher says his work has been translated into 40 languages and his plays have been produced over 1,000 times. And he is the fourth Norwegian to win the prize but the first since 1928.

Fosse will receive a gold medal and about $1 million at the Nobel prize award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10.

Words in This Story

translation –n. a version¹³ of a written work that is in another language than the original

impact –n. influence or an effect

sparse –adj. less than might seem necessary; covering thinly

 

highbrow –adj. interested only in serious things and not playful or funny

1 academy   

n.(高等)专科院校；学术社团，协会，研究院

参考例句：

• This is an academy of music.这是一所音乐专科学院。
• I visited Chinese Academy of Sciences yesterday.我昨天去访问了中国科学院。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

4 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

5 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

8 Scotland   

n.苏格兰

参考例句：

• He has been hiking round Scotland for a month.他围着苏格兰徒步旅行了一个月。
• Scotland is to the north of England.苏格兰在英格兰之北。

9 sparse   

adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的

参考例句：

• The teacher's house is in the suburb where the houses are sparse.老师的家在郊区，那里稀稀拉拉有几处房子。
• The sparse vegetation will only feed a small population of animals.稀疏的植物只够喂养少量的动物。

10 literary   

adj.文学（上）的

参考例句：

• Literary works of this kind are well received by the masses.这样的文学作品很受群众欢迎。
• The book was favourably noticed in literary magazines.这本书在文学杂志上得到好评。

11 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

12 criticism   

n.批评，批判，指责；评论，评论文章

参考例句：

• Some youth today do not allow any criticism at all.现在有些年轻人根本指责不得。
• It is wrong to turn a deaf ear to other's criticism.对别人的批评充耳不闻是错误的。

13 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？