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Austrian Writer Elfriede JelinekIs Awarded Nobel in Literature
Associated PressOctober 7, 2004 8:37 a.m.
STOCKHOLM -- Austrian novelist, playwright and poet Elfriede Jelinek, 57, won the Nobel Prize in literature, the Swedish Academy said Thursday.
The academy cited Ms. Jelinek's "musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's cliches and their subjugating power."
The decision to award the prize to a woman, and a poet, was the first since 1996, when Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska won.
Since the prize first was handed out in 1901, only nine women have won it.
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Born in Murzzuschlag in the Austrian provice of Stryia in 1946, Ms. Jelinek made her literary debut with the collection "Lisas Schatten" in 1967. Her writing took a critical turn after her involvement with the student movements that were prevalent throughout Europe in the 1970s, coming out with her satirical novel "We Are Decoys, Baby!"
That was followed by other works, including "Wonderful, Wonderful Times" in 1990 and "The Piano Teacher" in 1988.
The 18 lifetime members of the 218-year-old Swedish Academy, of whom only four are women, made the annual selection in deep secrecy last week.
For any writer, there could hardly be any greater honor than winning the Nobel Prize. But for an author whose work isn't widely translated, it opens doors to new markets and sales.
The prize also brings a financial security net, too -- a check of more than 10 million kronor (€1.1 million or $1.3 million).
Copyright © 2004 Associated Press