Herta Müller Wins 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
Romanian-born German novelist, poet, and essayist Herta Müller has won the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature.
The 56-year-old author, noted for her works depicting the harsh conditions of life in Romania under the criminal Ceauşescu regime, made her literary debut in 1982 with “Niederungen,” a collection of short stories which was censored by the communist government.
Her novels include “The Land of Green Plums” and “The Appointment.”
Muller’s works, mostly written in German, have been translated into English, French and Spanish.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden in December, where Müller will receive $1.4 million.
Okay, here’s an admission: Yet another recent Nobel laureate whom I’ve never even heard of, and this confession coming from one who has considered himself very well-read and pretty well versed in literature. This is not to diminish Ms. Muller’s achievement, and I congratulate her. I just wonder if, as an American and English-speaker only, I’m somehow missing out on a lot of erstwhile magnificent literature because it isn’t translated into my mother tongue, and if this is so, why? Are we so overwhelmed by the Dan Browns and Stephanie Meyers and Oprah’s choices that a world of great literature is being eclipsed here by the shadow of towering blockbusters?