(Karachi) The Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 has been awarded to American poet Louise Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal".
The prize was announced in Stockholm by Mats Malm, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy. The award, which includes a 10 million kronor (about $1.5 million Cdn) prize, comes after several years of controversy and scandal for the world's pre-eminent literary accolade.
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— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2020
The 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the American poet Louise Glück “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.”#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/Wbgz5Gkv8C
In 2018, the award was postponed after sex abuse allegations rocked the Swedish Academy, the secretive body that chooses the winners, and sparked a mass exodus of members.
New York-born Gluck, 77, who is a professor of English at Yale University, made her debut in 1968 with Firstborn, and "was soon acclaimed as one of the most prominent poets in American contemporary literature," the Nobel Academy said.
The Swedish Academy stated that Gluck's poetry is "characterized by a striving for clarity," often focusing on childhood and family life, and close relationship with parents and siblings.
The Literature Laureate made her debut in 1968 with ‘Firstborn’ and was soon acclaimed as one of the most prominent poets in American contemporary literature. She has published 12 collections of poetry and some volumes of essays on poetry.