Born in Romania, novelist, poet and essayist Herta Muller was born on August 17, 1953. During her 65 years, she has made many contributions to literature and has been awarded accordingly instead, including the International Dublin Literary Award, the Kleist Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2009. She was also the writer for a film released in Romania in 1992 entitled, ‘The Fox Was Ever the Hunter.’
The renowned Canadian short-story writer Alice Munro is famed for her revolutionary work on relationships between men and women, small-town living and psychological focus manifested in works such as ‘The Moons of Jupiter’, ‘Boys and Girls’ and ‘How I Met My Husband.’ Her work is said to have been responsible for reshaping the fabric of short-story telling, so it is no surprise she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013.
Born of the Caribbean pearl of St. Lucia, 1992 Nobel Prize winner Sir Derek Walcott is most famously known for his work in poetry. Along with producing works such as ‘Omeros’ and Love After Love’ Sir Derek Walcott was the University of Alberta’s first distinguished scholar, proceeding to teach undergraduate and graduate writing courses.
Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky lived for 56 years since May 24, 1940. During this time, the Russian poet and essayist operated afoul of Soviet authorities and later settled in the United States after being expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972. However, due to his accomplishments in the literary arena such as poems ‘Letter To An Archaeologist’ and ‘A Polar Explorer’, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 15 years later.
Renowned for making history as the first writer ever in Belarus to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, investigative journalist, essayist and oral historian Svetlana Alexievich is known for her outstanding writings in reverence to the suffering and courage of her time, most notably ‘The Unwomaly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II.’
Famed for work encapsulating the winters of Sweden, a vivid description of the seasons and the general beauty and splendour of nature, Swedish poet and Nobel Prize winner Tomas Transtromer was born in Stockholm on April 15, 1931. With works such as Alcaic, Balakirev’s Dream (1905) and From the Island (1860), he has come to be known as a powerful source of poetic prose in his lifetime.
“For an oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity”, novelist playwright and critic, Gao Xingjian was awarded the Noble Prize in Literature in 2000. Renowned for his profound views and insights, Gao Xingjian also occupies the titles of translator, screenwriter, stage director and celebrated painter. His best works include Soul Mountain (1990), One Man’s Bible (1999) and Snow in August (2003).
Described as having been of very great benefit to humanity, not just for her political activism, South African writer Nadine Gordimer is known for her magnificent writing style and portrayal evidenced in books such as Le conservateur, July’s People and My Son’s Story. In recognition of her prowess, she was named the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991.
Toni Morrison has won many an award including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (America’s highest civilian award), the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award in 1988 and more. However, another noteworthy achievement is her Nobel Prize in Literature awarded in 1993 for giving life to an essential aspect of American reality. She is best known for her book ‘Beloved’ (1987) which was adapted as a movie in 1998 and whose characters were played by famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey, Thandie Newton and Danny Glover.
The first African to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, Nigerian playwright, poet and essayist Wole Soyinka has officially gone down in African and wider history as a significant contributor to literature and literary works. His most famous works include Ake (1987), The Interpreters (1965) and The Man Died: Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka (1971).
