Alice Munro wins the Nobel Prize: ‘Master of the contemporary story’
Short-story author celebrated for ‘finely tuned storytelling’
FILE – This June 25, 2009 file photo shows Canadian Author Alice Munro at a press conference at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Munro has won the 2013 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday Oct. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, file)
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Alice Munro has won the Nobel Prize for literature.
Canadian Alice Munro, 82 yrs old, is awarded the 2013 #NobelPrize in #Literature “master of the contemporary story”. pic.twitter.com/TaohlgOQLt
— Nobelprize_org (@Nobelprize_org) October 10, 2013
Munro is acclaimed for her finely tuned storytelling, which is characterized by clarity & psychological realism. #NobelPrize #Literature
— Nobelprize_org (@Nobelprize_org) October 10, 2013
The author has been no stranger to accolades during her distinguished career as one of the world’s top short fiction writers. When she was awarded the Man Booker International Prize in 2009, judges called her work “practically perfect.” Here at home, she has been honoured with three Governor General’s Literary Awards and, most recently, a third Trillium Book Award.
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There had been speculation that Munro would win the award. Bookies at Ladbrokes suggested it was a matter of 4:1 odds — just behind Haruki Murakami.
Alice Munro, @aliceannmunro is now trending in Canada http://t.co/bUW5oOVA41
— Trendsmap Canada (@TrendsmapCanada) October 9, 2013
Going to Ladbroke’s or William Hill today to put £100 on Alice Munro for the Nobel.
— Christian Lorentzen (@xlorentzen) October 9, 2013
We hope Alice Munro wins the Nobel Prize for Literature, or Economics, or Peace, it doesn’t matter just give her one. http://t.co/vDGPN2viNS
— Byliner (@TheByliner) October 9, 2013
In July, Munro, 82, announced her retirement, telling the New York Times that “Dear Life” would be her last book. “Put your money on it,” she said.
She went on to win the $10,000 Harbourfront Festival Prize at the International Festival of Authors.
In her inteview with the Times this summer, Munro admitted she was not always comfortable with being a short story writer:
“While working on my first five books, I kept wishing I was writing a novel. I thought until you wrote a novel, you weren’t taken seriously as a writer. It used to trouble me a lot, but nothing troubles me now, and besides, there has been a change. I think short stories are taken more seriously now than they were.”
As for reaction to this morning’s honour?
The Swedish Academy has not been able to get a hold of Alice Munro, left a phone message. #NobelPrize #Literature
— Nobelprize_org (@Nobelprize_org) October 10, 2013
Update: Contacted in Victoria this morning by the Canadian Press, Munro said she is delighted and terribly surprised. “I knew I was in the running, yes, but I never thought I would win.”
Related link: A list of Canadians who have won the Nobel Prize.