Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Will Chinese author Can Xue Get This Year's Nobel Prize?

Is it the Chinese author Can Xue's turn this year? A woman who is not from Europe or the USA is likely to be well-positioned. So go the speculations ahead of this year's Nobel Prize in Literature.

» Updated: 08 October 2024, 22:05

» Published: 08 October 2024

Will Chinese author Can Xue Get This Year's Nobel Prize?
Photo: Privat/Albert Bonniers/TT

The stars are aligned for Can Xue, believes cultural journalist Jenny Aschenbrenner.

It is said that when a Chinese author has been awarded the prize, it has always been in the Dragon year according to Chinese astrology.

But it's not just because of that I believe it's time for Xue this year. Also because she is perfectly stubborn with her enigmatic and radical prose, which is not loved by the Chinese regime.

After Glück, Gurnah, Ernaux, and Fosse, the Academy might choose a non-European woman, believes Sara Meidell, author and cultural editor at Västerbottens-Kuriren.

In that case, the names that are circulating in the betting talk are Can Xue or Yoko Ogawa. Maybe they'll snatch Margaret Atwood, but there, the relatively broad Fosse and Ernaux have paved the way for a narrower choice.

Rumors about a Chinese author

Author Lyra Ekström Lindbäck has calculated the statistics, but is tipping with her gut feeling.

Even if the rumor says it will be a Chinese author – the betting sites are convinced it's Can Xue – while statistically it might be a Spanish-speaking author, my gut feeling is leaning towards the Russian Ljudmila Ulitskaja.

Her seemingly traditional epic reinvents a new form for social critique, precisely by letting her characters emerge as ambiguous people, who even remain partially elusive in their own narrative.

Ida Stiller, acting editor-in-chief at Länstidningen Östersund, is also promoting Can Xue as a likely candidate.

But I believe even more in the Syrian poet Adonis. He has previously been a favorite to win many years in a row, but in recent years, he has rarely topped the betting lists.

Hoping for Kincaid

Author and cultural journalist Alba Mogensen believes – and above all hopes – that it will be Jamaica Kincaid.

There is no one who has written as clearly, poetically, multifaceted, and at the same time easily accessible about colonialism and its impact on people. "Lucy" is a small, yet great, masterpiece.

Author Agri Ismail is betting on Australian Gerald Murnane – long unknown, but in recent years both cult-declared and hailed as one of the most original authors in the English-speaking world.

Partly because he gave a rare interview earlier this year to show that he's still alive. But mainly because it's really ambitious literature from a part of the world whose literature has become one of the most interesting thanks to him.

The Nobel Prize will be announced on Thursday.

Mattias Timander, author and cultural writer, always returns to the same favorite.

I'm tipping and hoping for Nina Bouraoui. She has a unique, beautiful style that she uses to explore both the euphoric and existential darkness.

Literary magazine editor Saga Wallander both believes and hopes for Anne Carson.

But it also feels like it could be Salman Rushdie.

Poet Olivia Bergdahl is keeping her fingers crossed for French author Éric Vuillard.

He has an incredibly intelligent way of writing about historical events and makes history present. He has written about the storming of the Bastille and in the spring, a new book about Buffalo Bill will be published.

2023, Jon Fosse, Norway

2022, Annie Ernaux, France.

2021, Abdulrazak Gurnah, UK/Zanzibar

2020, Louise Glück, USA.

2019, Peter Handke, Austria.

2018, Olga Tokarczuk, Poland.

2017, Kazuo Ishiguro, UK/Japan.

2016, Bob Dylan, USA.

2015 Svetlana Aleksijevitj, Belarus.

2014 Patrick Modiano, France.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

They Can Be the Thriller of the Year
1 MIN READ

They Can Be the Thriller of the Year

Liam Payne flies home to England
1 MIN READ

Liam Payne flies home to England

They will be hosting Melodifestivalen
2 MIN READ

They will be hosting Melodifestivalen

Emotional when Hans dies in "Wahlgren's World"
2 MIN READ

Emotional when Hans dies in "Wahlgren's World"

The TV series about The Pirate Bay doesn't take sides
3 MIN READ

The TV series about The Pirate Bay doesn't take sides

Kimmel after Trump's victory: "Good evening for Putin"
1 MIN READ

Kimmel after Trump's victory: "Good evening for Putin"

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library
1 MIN READ

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle
1 MIN READ

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook
1 MIN READ

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook

Oasis Expands World Tour
1 MIN READ

Oasis Expands World Tour

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother
3 MIN READ

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother

Celebrities react to the election result
2 MIN READ

Celebrities react to the election result

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent
2 MIN READ

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show
1 MIN READ

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025
1 MIN READ

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes
2 MIN READ

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall

This week's film and series
2 MIN READ

This week's film and series

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump
1 MIN READ

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump