They’ve just announced the winner of this year’s Man Booker International Prize. Congratulations go to:
- László Krasznahorkai (Hungary)
When I saw the tweet come across I just wanted to hit the favorite button over and over again. Krasznahorkai is one of my favorite authors, and I’m thrilled he’s been getting more attention in the past years. Thanks to his U.S. publisher, New Directions, for doing such a great job over here.
Here is the official press release.
And here is that tweet I really liked:
László Krasznahorkai is the winner of the Man Booker International Prize #MBI2015 pic.twitter.com/fotTW1OW0d
— Man Booker Prize (@ManBookerPrize) May 19, 2015
Now, go read some of his books! As he is one of my Pantheon authors, I have a nice list (not complete) for you:
László Krasznahorkai (1954- )
- Satantango (1985)
- The Melancholy of Resistance (1989)
- The Prisoner of Urga (1992)
- War and War (1999)
- From North a Hill, from South a Lake, from East a Road, from West a River (2003)
- Ruin and Sorrow Beneath the Heavens (2004)
- Seiobo There Below (2008)
- Animalinside (2010)
For film friends, Krasznahorkai is a frequent collaborator with Béla Tarr. Here are Krasznahorkai’s screenplays:
- 1988: Damnation (Kárhozat), directed by Béla Tarr.
- 1994: Sátántangó, directed by Béla Tarr.
- 1997–2001: Werckmeister Harmonies (Werckmeister harmóniák), directed by Béla Tarr.
- 2007: The Man from London (A Londoni férfi), directed by Béla Tarr.
- 2011: The Turin Horse (A torinói ló), directed by Béla Tarr.
I’m thrilled Krasznahorkai won (I think I’ve made that obvious), but the whole list of finalists is worth looking into. The judges did a remarkable job this year:
•César Aira (Argentina)
•Hoda Barakat (Lebanon)
•Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe)
•Mia Couto (Mozambique)
•Amitav Ghosh (India)
•Fanny Howe (United States of America)
•Ibrahim al-Koni (Libya)
•László Krasznahorkai (Hungary)
•Alain Mabanckou (Republic of Congo)
•Marlene van Niekerk (South Africa)
Really liked Satantango, which I read on your recommendation. Maybe I’ll look for his other stuff.