The Swedish Academy has honored Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai for his "compelling and visionary work" that, even amidst depictions of apocalyptic terror, affirms the enduring power of art.
Susan Sontag famously dubbed Krasznahorkai the "Master of the Apocalypse," a title that resonates deeply with the recurring themes in his novels. The Nobel committee specifically cited his ability to reaffirm the power of art "in the midst of apocalyptic terror." His work is characterized by a profound sense of emptiness, expectation, and a pervasive feeling that the world is perpetually awaiting an event that never arrives.
Krasznahorkai's novels, beginning with his 1985 debut, satantango, and continuing through works like Melancholia of Resistance, depict the slow, inexorable decay of both the social fabric and the physical landscape of the Hungarian countryside. He masterfully portrays the hopes and fears of individuals caught within this degradation, creating a uniquely unsettling and compelling reading experience.