The Hungarian Author László Krasznahorkai Receives the 2025 Nobel Award in Literature

The prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature for 2025 has been granted to from Hungary author László Krasznahorkai, as revealed by the Nobel awarding body.

The Academy praised the author's "powerful and prophetic oeuvre that, in the midst of end-times fear, confirms the power of the arts."

A Legacy of Dystopian Fiction

Krasznahorkai is renowned for his dystopian, melancholic works, which have won numerous prizes, such as the recent National Book Award for literature in translation and the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.

Several of his novels, notably his titles his debut and another major work, have been made into feature films.

Debut Novel

Hailing in Gyula, Hungary in 1954, Krasznahorkai first made his mark with his 1985 debut novel his seminal novel, a dark and hypnotic portrayal of a failing countryside settlement.

The novel would later earn the Man Booker International Prize recognition in the English language many years later, in 2013.

A Distinctive Writing Approach

Frequently labeled as postmodernist, Krasznahorkai is known for his long, winding phrases (the dozen sections of the book each comprise a single paragraph), apocalyptic and melancholic themes, and the kind of relentless intensity that has led reviewers to draw parallels with Gogol, Melville and Kafka.

Satantango was notably adapted into a seven-hour movie by filmmaker Béla Tarr, with whom Krasznahorkai has had a enduring artistic collaboration.

"The author is a significant author of grand narratives in the Central European literary tradition that traces back to Franz Kafka to Bernhard, and is characterised by absurdism and bizarre extremes," commented the committee chair, leader of the Nobel jury.

He portrayed Krasznahorkai’s style as having "evolved into … flowing syntax with long, winding phrases devoid of periods that has become his hallmark."

Critical Acclaim

The critic Susan Sontag has described the author as "today's from Hungary expert of end-times," while the writer W.G. Sebald praised the wide appeal of his outlook.

Only a few of Krasznahorkai’s novels have been translated into English translation. The literary critic James Wood once noted that his books "are shared like precious items."

International Inspiration

Krasznahorkai’s professional journey has been shaped by journeys as much as by his writing. He first left the communist Hungary in 1987, residing a period in Berlin for a grant, and later was inspired from Eastern Asia – particularly China and Mongolia – for works such as The Prisoner of Urga, and his book on China.

While developing this novel, he explored across the continent and lived for a time in Allen Ginsberg’s New York home, stating the legendary writer's backing as essential to finishing the work.

Author's Perspective

Asked how he would characterize his writing in an interview, Krasznahorkai answered: "Characters; then from letters, vocabulary; then from these terms, some brief phrases; then additional phrases that are more extended, and in the main extremely lengthy sentences, for the span of decades. Beauty in writing. Fun in despair."

On fans finding his work for the first time, he noted: "For any readers who are new to my works, I couldn’t recommend anything to read to them; instead, I’d recommend them to step out, sit down in a place, perhaps by the side of a brook, with no obligations, nothing to think about, just remaining in tranquility like boulders. They will eventually encounter a person who has encountered my novels."

Award Background

Before the announcement, betting agencies had pegged the frontrunners for this year’s honor as an avant-garde author, an avant garde from China author, and Krasznahorkai himself.

The Nobel Honor in Literature has been given on over a hundred past events since 1901. Latest laureates include the French author, Dylan, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Louise Glück, Peter Handke and the Polish author. Last year’s recipient was the South Korean writer, the South Korean novelist best known for The Vegetarian.

Krasznahorkai will ceremonially accept the award and certificate in a ceremony in the month of December in Stockholm, Sweden.

Additional details forthcoming