Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature
Celebrated for poetic prose confronting human fragility and historical trauma
South Korean author Han Kang received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. The Nobel committee praised her for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” The Nobel Prize’s X handle highlighted that Kang’s work shows a “double exposure of pain,” blending mental and physical torment with connections to Eastern thought.
In her 2012 short story “Europa” (published in 2019), the male narrator, disguised as a woman, becomes fascinated by a woman who has left a difficult marriage. When asked by his beloved what he would do with his life if he could live as he wished, the narrator remains silent, indicating a lack of fulfillment or atonement.
Han Kang, 53, previously won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for “The Vegetarian,” a novel about a woman’s decision to stop eating meat that leads to devastating results. Since 1901, 116 Prizes in Literature have been awarded, with 17 women among the recipients. Four prizes have been shared between multiple laureates.
South Korean author Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for ‘her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life’ https://t.co/iBfNBWBMaF pic.twitter.com/YqitkuxMtt
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 10, 2024
The Nobel announcements began on Monday, with Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun winning the medicine prize. On Tuesday, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, pioneers of machine learning, were awarded the physics prize. Wednesday saw David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper honoured with the chemistry prize for developing powerful techniques to decode and design novel proteins.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, followed by the economics award on Oct. 14. Each Prize includes a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million), funded by the bequest of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor. Laureates will receive their awards on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.
Norwegian author Jon Fosse won the Nobel Literature Prize last year for his “innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- NobelPrize.org announces Han Kang as the 2024 Nobel Literature laureate for her intense poetic prose confronting historical traumas and human fragility.(read more)
- The Guardian: South Korean author Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her intense poetic prose confronting historical traumas and exposing human fragility.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature?
South Korean author Han Kang.
Why was Han Kang awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature?
For her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.
What notable work did Han Kang write in 2012?
She wrote the short story ‘Europa,’ published in 2019.
How many women have won the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901?
Seventeen women.
What is the cash award for each Nobel Prize?
11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million).
