Anne Carson, the writer honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, expressed surprise upon receiving notification of the award this Thursday, October 8th. A photograph capturing the moment was shared on social media.
The caption of the post indicated that the newly awarded recipient appeared surprised in the kitchen of her residence in Reykjavík, Iceland, upon receiving the call informing her of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature attribution.
Ingrid Calberg, the permanent secretary of the Academy responsible for communicating the winner to the press, confirmed that the announcement was a great surprise for Carson. She reported that, although they did not have much time, Carson expressed being very surprised, but also very happy, which she perceived in the author's voice.
In a later interview, Anne Carson described the moment as 'very crazy.' She recounted that when she received the news, she was eating biscuits and drinking tea, but noticed that the floor needed cleaning and started sweeping, at which point she answered the phone. The author mentioned having hung up several calls until her husband advised her to return the call.
Carson joked about the situation, saying: 'This seems a little insane. I think it's all insane.'
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Anne Carson 'for her bold and creative work that, in a playful dialogue with classical tradition, created new forms for contemporary literature.'
The organization disclosed on the social network X (Twitter) that the Canadian author was honored for her creative and audacious work, which established new modalities for modern literature through a playful dialogue with classical tradition.
The Academy detailed that throughout her career, Carson explores the potential of writing with lightness, transforming the literary sketch into something of great personal value to her. Her collaborations with visual artists, choreographers, as well as opera and theater directors, highlight the freedom with which she relates to literary norms and rule systems. This aspect is pointed out as the source of the notable importance of her work since the 1990s in the international artistic and literary scene.
Born in 1950 in Toronto, Anne Carson completed her doctoral thesis in Classical Studies, titled 'Odi et Amo Ergo Sum,' in 1981. Since then, she has balanced poetry writing with translation and teaching activities at various universities. Almost all of her literary production focuses on the intersection between the philologist's obsession with words and the poet's yearning for new meanings.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences emphasized that the author herself identified the etymology of words as the starting point of all her work, considering her translations from classical Greek as autonomous works. Furthermore, the Academy observed that, through literary constellations, Carson distanced herself from lyrical poetry centered on the narrative 'self,' fostering new forms of contemporary literature.
Among the titles by Anne Carson published in Portugal are 'Águalisa,' 'Autobiography of Red,' and 'Eros, bitter and sweet: an essay.' It is relevant to note that the prize was given to Laszlo Krasznahorkai in 2025, and since 2018, it alternates between men and women, being awarded to Han Kang, South Korean, in 2024.
Established for the first time in 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature aims to recognize someone who has produced the most exceptional work in an ideal direction within their field. This year, each category will receive 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately 1.1 million euros), a 9% increase from the previous amount, a decision made by the Nobel Foundation to mark the 125th anniversary of the first award ceremony.
The award ceremonies take place simultaneously on December 10th in Oslo (for the Peace Prize) and in Stockholm (for the other categories).