Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Nobel Goes To?
Tomorrow, another Nobel for a writer. The buzz is for Franzen. If a poet (in English, to be parochial for a minute), the following have a shot: Les Murray, Bill Manhire, Paul Muldoon, Anne Carson, Geoffrey Hill, and John Ashbery - each is a major figure, and is worthy. I can only guess at the many other-languaged poets out there. Again, prose writers in English who are deserving include Philip Roth, Margaret Atwood, and John Banville. It probably should go to Murakami. We shall see...
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/05/nobel-prize-literature-bob-dylan
ReplyDeleteDuncan
Duncan, thanks for this. Bob Dylan is a lyrical genius. But doesn't the Nobel Prize for Literature, in the first instance, have to go to someone who has published most of their work in written not performed form? Notably, no screenwriter has won - though arguably the writers of The Wire deserve such a prize, as well. The Nobel should have an Arts prize that encompasses painting, music, dance, etc - but such awards are covered elsewhere. Perhaps Dylan will just have to accept Grammys.
ReplyDeleteTodd, of those you mention, I think Banville is most deserving. I note two Canadians on your list: Carson and Atwood. Just imagine, the first Canadian to be so honoured (it seems no one ever counts Saul Bellow). Frankly, if I could give it to a countryman, it would be Leonard Cohen.
ReplyDeleteDario Fo won, didn't he? And to my knowledge he never wrote anything except for performance.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time song lyrics were recognized as literature:
ReplyDeletehttp://scarriet.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/forever-green/
Duncan