This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8296720.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
Mueller wins Nobel literary prize | Mueller wins Nobel literary prize |
(18 minutes later) | |
German author Herta Mueller has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature, the academy in Stockholm has announced. | German author Herta Mueller has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature, the academy in Stockholm has announced. |
The Romanian-born writer follows last year's French winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, while British writer Doris Lessing won in 2007. | The Romanian-born writer follows last year's French winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, while British writer Doris Lessing won in 2007. |
Mueller, born in 1953, is renowned for her depiction of the harsh conditions under Nicolae Ceausescu's regime. | Mueller, born in 1953, is renowned for her depiction of the harsh conditions under Nicolae Ceausescu's regime. |
She said she was "stunned and still cannot believe it". | |
The Swedish academy praised Mueller for both her poetry and prose. | The Swedish academy praised Mueller for both her poetry and prose. |
Literary prizes | Literary prizes |
It said the writer had an ability to "depict the landscape of the dispossessed" and wrote "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose". | It said the writer had an ability to "depict the landscape of the dispossessed" and wrote "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose". |
Mueller was born to a family from Romania's German minority and her mother was deported to a labour camp in the Soviet Union after World War II. | Mueller was born to a family from Romania's German minority and her mother was deported to a labour camp in the Soviet Union after World War II. |
A bit like Franz Kafka writing in German in Prague, Mueller saw in her mother tongue a direct and poignant expression of alienation Razia Iqbal, BBC Arts correspondent Read Razia's blog Profile: Herta Mueller | |
She emigrated to Germany in 1987, after being dismissed from her job in Romania during the 1970s due to her refusal to co-operate with the regime's secret police. | She emigrated to Germany in 1987, after being dismissed from her job in Romania during the 1970s due to her refusal to co-operate with the regime's secret police. |
Her first collection of German language short stories, published in 1982, was censored in Romania. | Her first collection of German language short stories, published in 1982, was censored in Romania. |
Mueller's initial works were smuggled out of the country, while in later years she was awarded several literary prizes, including the Irish Republic's Impac Award in 1998. | |
One of her later books, 2001's The Appointment, goes into great detail about living under a stagnated dictatorship. | One of her later books, 2001's The Appointment, goes into great detail about living under a stagnated dictatorship. |
Only a few of the author's works have been translated into English, including The Passport (1986), The Land of Green Plums (1994) and The Appointment. | Only a few of the author's works have been translated into English, including The Passport (1986), The Land of Green Plums (1994) and The Appointment. |
Mueller will receive a prize of 10 million Swedish Kronor (£892,000) along with her Nobel honour, which will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm later this year. | Mueller will receive a prize of 10 million Swedish Kronor (£892,000) along with her Nobel honour, which will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm later this year. |