Nobel Prize in Literature 2025: László Krasznahorkai

Press Release & Initial Reactions

• Some noted the literature prize announcement was unusually terse compared to other Nobel categories, though others pointed out there is a separate detailed bio/bibliography page.
• Overall sentiment in the thread is strongly positive toward the choice, with several longtime readers saying they had been “waiting” for this award.

Relationship with Béla Tarr & Film Adaptations

• Many argued you “can’t mention” Krasznahorkai without the filmmaker Béla Tarr; Tarr’s key films closely track Krasznahorkai’s novels and scripts (e.g., Sátántangó, Werckmeister Harmonies, The Turin Horse).
• Several called these some of the best book-to-film adaptations ever, capturing the “spirit of the text” rather than just the plot, and recommended seeing them on 35mm when possible.
• Others pushed back on the extreme length (7–8 hours for Sátántangó), likening the experience to “ultimate ennui,” while defenders compared the time commitment to binging a TV series.
• It’s noted that the author co-wrote screenplays and that some film projects (The Turin Horse, collaborations with visual artists) are original, not mere adaptations.

Style, Recommended Works & Reading Experience

• His prose is described variously as “lovely and lyrical,” “relentlessly oppressive and hypnotic,” and like “wading through a fever dream.”
• Works repeatedly recommended as entry points: Sátántangó, The Melancholy of Resistance, War & War, Seiobo There Below, The World Goes On, The Last Wolf, Animalinside, and the very short A Mountain to the North….
• Some readers struggled with Sátántangó and preferred other novels or short stories, suggesting that disliking that book doesn’t mean one won’t enjoy the rest.
• Several comments stress how his books shaped their view of conflict, apathy, and “apocalyptic terror” while reaffirming the power of art.

Translations & Indirect Reading

• A major thread discusses the anxiety of reading such a stylistically dense author in translation.
• Commenters note that the Nobel committee almost certainly evaluates him via translations, effectively rewarding translator and author together.
• It’s widely accepted that “something is always lost,” and people advise researching specific translators, as quality can vary dramatically.
• One translator of his early novels is singled out as crucial to their impact in English, reinforcing the idea that readers are engaging with a joint creation.

Nobel Rules, Intent, and Lifetime Achievement

• One commenter asked how this award fits Alfred Nobel’s original stipulation about work in the “preceding year” and an “ideal direction.”
• Multiple replies say that in practice the Nobel, including literature, functions as a lifetime achievement award recognizing long-term impact, not a single recent work.
• Some argue that strict fidelity to Nobel’s 19th‑century wording is neither realistic nor especially important today.
• A side discussion branches into how founding texts (Nobel’s will, constitutions) are interpreted and reinterpreted over time, with mixed views on whether that’s appropriate.

Hungarian Context & National Pride

• Hungarian participants list recent laureates from the country in various fields and express pride, while also noting discomfort with saying “we” about achievements they didn’t contribute to.
• There is commentary about Hungary’s limited support for high-level scientific and artistic work, and the resulting brain drain, contrasted with national satisfaction at seeing compatriots succeed abroad.