Having worked on a few Greek translation projects, the thing I always come back to with her is how she leaves the gaps in Sappho visible instead of smoothing them over. Brackets on the page. Most translators can't resist filling those in.
Never heard of her before, can someone explain the significance? I see that Autobiography of Red is praised for blending different things like translation/novel in verse/essays together, but that doesn't sound like something new? I've read Milorad Pavic's Dictionary of Khazars before, seems like it fits the same description?
Why assume that novelty is a criterion for the worth of someone's literary output? Things can tread familiar ground, use familiar forms, and still be remarkable or worthwhile. (Imagine saying to Shakespeare: "Why write a book of love sonnets? Didn't Petrarch already do that?")
That said, I haven't read more than a few pieces by Carson and I'm curious to read more.
I try to understand what's the criterion, and inferred novelty since the other Nobel prizes seem to be awarded for some novel contributions. As I said, just trying to understand significance.
As a broad generality, you're right about novelty being a poor criterion.
But in the specific context of the Nobel Prize in Literature... The Prize's official mandate specifies an author who has "in the field of literature, produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction". There's also a "for the greatest benefit to humankind" criteria.
With those ground rules, writing Yet More Books in well-trod genres - but just slightly better than any of the other authors there - really doesn't seem to cut it for the Nobel Prize.
Among other things, Carson is a famous/prolific translator of Ancient Greek plays (including the ones that probably come to mind when you hear "Ancient Greek plays").
She is typically praised for her translations as well as the creative interplay of classical and modern imagery in her works. An aspect I think often overlooked is the relation of her text with the physical media of reading the text. For example Nox which is printed as a single continuous accordion-folded sheet.
I wish I could see a nice spoken performance of Autobiography of Red some day, it should be read out loud, imo. Her writing is very physical if that makes sense.
What are the odds that yet another LGBT diaspora text wins again? I find it kind of hard to believe that this is the best writing this year when 6 of the last 10 Nobels have been LGBQ or ethnic diaspora adjacent.
hn1rig3rak | 10 hours ago
saintblasphemer | 8 hours ago
garbawarb | 10 hours ago
lucius_verus | 9 hours ago
vishkk | 8 hours ago
ChrisArchitect | 7 hours ago
vlaaad | 6 hours ago
RGS1811 | 6 hours ago
That said, I haven't read more than a few pieces by Carson and I'm curious to read more.
vlaaad | 6 hours ago
bell-cot | 5 hours ago
But in the specific context of the Nobel Prize in Literature... The Prize's official mandate specifies an author who has "in the field of literature, produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction". There's also a "for the greatest benefit to humankind" criteria.
With those ground rules, writing Yet More Books in well-trod genres - but just slightly better than any of the other authors there - really doesn't seem to cut it for the Nobel Prize.
cryzinger | 6 hours ago
saintblasphemer | 6 hours ago
purpleflashing | 6 hours ago
bita_nidir | 6 hours ago
_whiteCaps_ | 6 hours ago
georgefrowny | 6 hours ago
bita_nidir | 4 hours ago
_whiteCaps_ | 4 hours ago
Canadian media doesn't highlight her dual citizenship :)
gottorf | 4 hours ago
spinchange | 5 hours ago
eudamoniac | an hour ago
rdmuser | 21 minutes ago
https://www.metafilter.com/214757/The-2026-Nobel-Prize-in-Li...