Nobel Prize in
Literature Awards
Stir Controversy.
The awards for 2018 and
2019 were awarded to Central
European writers, Olga Tokarczuk
and Peter Handke, respectively.
Out of the 116 Nobel laureates
for literature, Tokarczuk is the
15th woman to receive the prize.
The Nobel committee's naming
of Peter Handke stirred controversy
in both the literary and European political worlds.
He is an outspoken, right-leaning
writer, known for delivering the eulogy for
former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic.
Milosevic was charged with
crimes against humanity for
his role in the genocide committed
during the Yugoslav Wars.
We are dumbfounded by the selection of a writer who has used his public voice to undercut historical truth and offer public succor to perpetrators of genocide, Jennifer Egan, PEN America, via 'The New York Times'.
The committee
responded to the controversy.
It is not in the Academy’s mandate to balance literary quality against political considerations, Nobel Committee statement, via 'The New York Times'.
Olga Tokarczuk
expressed joy at being
recognized alongside Handke.
I am also very happy that Peter Handke has received the award with me, I value him very much, Olga Tokarczuk, Nobel Laureate, via 'The New York Times'