Stockholm: Hungarian novelist Laszlo Krasznahorkai, known for his dark, philosophical storytelling and long, flowing prose, has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy announced the award on Thursday, praising him for “a compelling and visionary body of work that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.”

Born in Gyula, Hungary, the 71-year-old writer is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most original literary voices.

His first major success came with the novel Satantango in 1985, which was later adapted into a seven-hour film by Hungarian director Bela Tarr. His other acclaimed works include The Melancholy of Resistance and Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming, stories that explore human struggle, isolation, and resilience in troubled times.

Krasznahorkai’s writing, known for its long, intricate sentences and deep philosophical reflections, has often been compared to that of Franz Kafka and Thomas Bernhard. Critics say his Nobel win recognizes his lifelong dedication to serious and transformative literature at a time when quick consumption dominates modern culture.

The author has received several international honors in the past, including the Man Booker International Prize in 2015 and the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2019. He is the first Hungarian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since Imre Kertesz in 2002.

The award carries a cash prize of 11 million Swedish crowns, or about 1.2 million US dollars. Krasznahorkai will receive the Nobel medal and diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the official ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.

Following the announcement, literary circles across the world celebrated the decision, describing Krasznahorkai’s victory as a triumph for literature that dares to challenge readers and confront the complexities of the human soul.