László Krasznahorkai
Facts
Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach
László Krasznahorkai
Nobel Prize in Literature 2025
Born: 5 January 1954, Gyula, Hungary
Prize motivation: “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”
Language: Hungarian
Prize share: 1/1
Work
László Krasznahorkai's work can be seen as part of a Central European tradition characterised by the absurd and the grotesque. Important features are pessimism and apocalypse, but also humour and unpredictability. Krasznahorkai's prose is characterised by a flowing language with long, winding sentences devoid of full stops. His novels include Satantango, The Melancholy of Resistance, War & War, Baron Wenckheim's Homecoming and Herscht 07769. Impressions from journeys to China and Japan have also inspired, among others, the book Seiobo There Below.
Book tips
Discover the works of László Krasznahorkai
Curious about 2025 literature laureate László Krasznahorkai but unsure which of his books to pick up first? Here members of the Swedish Academy give their recommendations.
Books by László Krasznahorkai.
Photo: Samuel Unéus.
Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 14 laureates' work and discoveries range from quantum tunnelling to promoting democratic rights.
See them all presented here.
