Stockholm / Budapest, October 9, 2025 — In a landmark recognition of modern literary daring, the Swedish Academy has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature to Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai, citing his “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.”
A Singular Voice in World Literature
Born on January 5, 1954, in Gyula, Hungary, Krasznahorkai has long been acclaimed for his dense, existential prose and unflinching explorations of isolation, decay, and human persistence. Over his decades-long career, he has become a figure both venerated and challenging to read—his work often demands patience, immersion, and intellectual rigor.
Some of his best-known books, such as Satantango (1985) and The Melancholy of Resistance (1989), have gained international recognition, including film adaptations by Hungarian director
In 2015, Krasznahorkai was also awarded the Man Booker International Prize—a stepping stone that brought his work to a wider English-speaking readership.
Why the Nobel Prize?
The Nobel Committee praised Krasznahorkai’s body of work as a powerful defense of art amid darkness. Its citation speaks of a “visionary oeuvre” in which “apocalyptic terror” is countered by the redemptive force of literature.
Mats Malm, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, announced that Krasznahorkai’s writing achieves a rare alchemy—melding existential tension with formal daring, unveiling both despair and possibility.
This year’s award carries a prize sum of 11 million Swedish kronor (around USD 1.2 million), along with the Nobel medal and diploma.
Looking Ahead
The Nobel Prize ceremony will take place on December 10, 2025, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Meanwhile, the global literary world is already looking forward to what renewed attention may bring—greater translations, new critical studies, deeper engagement with Krasznahorkai’s challenging corpus.
In an age of fast, ephemeral content, the Swedish Academy’s choice highlights the enduring value of literature that dares to dwell in darkness, demanding thought, and returning it in luminous fragments.
