Imagine plunging into a literary universe where the mundane collides with the apocalyptic, where beauty and terror intertwine in ways that leave you questioning reality itself – that's the captivating world of László Krasznahorkai, the 2025 Nobel Prize winner in Literature. This Hungarian author's works don't just tell stories; they pull you into a vortex of existential dread and poetic wonder, making you ponder the fragility of human existence. But here's where it gets controversial: Is his style a masterful exploration of chaos, or does it risk alienating readers with its relentless intensity? Stick around as we dive deeper into his life and legacy, uncovering the threads that make his writing both timeless and urgently modern.
Nobel Prize in Literature 2025
Biobibliography
English
English pdf
Swedish (https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2025/1143169-biobibliography-swedish/)
Swedish pdf
László Krasznahorkai entered the world in 1954 in the quaint town of Gyula, located in southeastern Hungary, not far from the Romanian border. This remote, rural backdrop mirrors the setting of his debut novel, Sátántangó, which hit the shelves in 1985 and became a sensation in Hungary, marking his big breakthrough. The English translation, Satantango, arrived in 2012. In this gripping tale, Krasznahorkai vividly depicts a group of impoverished villagers on a forsaken collective farm in the Hungarian countryside, right on the cusp of communism's collapse. A heavy silence hangs in the air, filled with anticipation, until the enigmatic Irimiás and his sidekick Petrina – presumed dead by everyone – make a dramatic reappearance. To the villagers, they embody either harbingers of hope or agents of final judgment. The 'satanic' twist in the title shines through in their manipulative tactics and the deceptive charm of Irimiás, which ensnares nearly everyone in a web of confusion. The story revolves around a collective yearning for a miracle, yet from the start, this hope is undermined by the Kafka-esque epigraph: 'In that case, I’ll miss the thing by waiting for it.' This novel even inspired a groundbreaking 1994 film, co-directed with Béla Tarr, showcasing how Krasznahorkai's vision transcends the page.
American critic Susan Sontag didn't hold back, dubbing Krasznahorkai the 'master of the apocalypse' in contemporary literature after diving into his second book, Az ellenállás melankóliája (1989), translated as The Melancholy of Resistance in 1998. Here, the stakes escalate in a feverish, nightmarish fantasy unfolding in a tiny Hungarian town tucked away in a Carpathian valley. Right from page one, readers join the unlikable Mrs. Pflaum in a whirlwind of crisis. Ominous omens proliferate. The plot intensifies with the arrival of a spectral circus, headlined by the rotting carcass of an enormous whale. This eerie spectacle unleashes waves of violence and destruction, while the military's failure to restore order opens the door to a potential dictatorial takeover. Through surreal scenes and exaggerated characters, Krasznahorkai brilliantly illustrates the savage clash between chaos and control, ensuring no one escapes the grip of fear.
Shifting gears in Háború és háború (1999), rendered in English as War & War (2006), Krasznahorkai broadens his horizons beyond Hungary. The protagonist, a modest archivist named Korin, embarks on a final journey from Budapest's outskirts to New York City, aiming to claim his spot at the world's center. In his archives back home, he's unearthed a stunning ancient epic about homecoming warriors, which he dreams of sharing globally. Krasznahorkai's writing evolves here into his trademark style: fluid, expansive sentences that snake on without periods, creating a hypnotic flow.
This picaresque adventure foreshadows his monumental work, Báró Wenckheim hazatér (2016), translated as Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming (2019). But this time, the focus swings back to returning to one's roots, with Krasznahorkai playfully engaging literary traditions. Think of Dostoyevsky's 'idiot' reborn as the Baron, a hopelessly smitten gambler addicted to the tables. Bankrupt and exiled in Argentina for years, he heads home to Hungary in search of his long-lost childhood love. Tragically, he falls into the clutches of the shady Dante, a grubby take on Sancho Panza. The novel's comedic peak comes in the boisterous welcome the baron receives from locals – a celebration he desperately tries to dodge, adding layers of melancholy to the mix.
Rounding out his 'apocalyptic' epics is Herscht 07769: Florian Herscht Bach-regénye (2021), published in English as Herscht 07769: A Novel (2024). Instead of a Carpathian fever dream, we're thrust into a believable modern German town in Thüringen, plagued by social breakdown, murder, and arson. Yet, this terror unfolds against the majestic backdrop of Johann Sebastian Bach's musical heritage. Written in one unbroken breath, it's a profound meditation on how violence and beauty can coexist in impossible harmony.
Critics have hailed Herscht 07769 as a standout contemporary German novel for its sharp depiction of societal turmoil. The protagonist, Herscht, embodies the archetype of the naive, kind-hearted fool à la Dostoyevsky, who awakens to the harsh truth that he's trusted the very forces wreaking havoc in town – much like Voluska in The Melancholy of Resistance. With Krasznahorkai, unpredictability is always in play, culminating in a twisty ending that defies expectations.
László Krasznahorkai stands as a towering epic storyteller in the Central European lineage, tracing back through Kafka to Thomas Bernhard, defined by absurdity and over-the-top grotesqueness. And this is the part most people miss: He doesn't stop there. Turning eastward, he adopts a more meditative, precise voice, drawing from his travels to China and Japan. This shift births a series of contemplative pieces, starting with his 2003 novel Északról hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó (A Mountain to the North, a Lake to the South, Paths to the West, a River to the East, 2022). This enigmatic narrative, rich with lyrical passages, unfolds southeast of Kyoto, serving as a prelude to his expansive Seiobo járt odalent (2008), translated as Seiobo There Below (2013). This anthology of seventeen tales, structured in a Fibonacci sequence, explores beauty and creativity amid blindness and transience. One unforgettable opener features a pristine white heron poised motionless in Kyoto's Kamo River, unseen by passersby, symbolizing the artist's solitary plight.
The collection weaves around the Japanese legend of Seiobo, guardian of a garden that yields immortality every three millennia. Krasznahorkai uses this myth to delve into artistic creation, tracing its origins across varied eras and settings. Often, masterpieces emerge after rigorous preparation rooted in tradition and skill. Sometimes, they arise from chaotic delays, like the risky transport of an unfinished painting by Renaissance master Pietro Vannucci (better known as Perugino) from Florence to his birthplace in Perugia. While the world thinks he's retired, a miracle unfolds there.
In Seiobo There Below, the artist often remains offstage. Instead, we encounter peripheral figures – custodians, observers, artisans – who participate without fully grasping the work's essence. It's a brilliant exploration, guiding readers through 'back entrances' to the mysterious process of creation.
Another gem showcasing Krasznahorkai's versatility is the shorter Aprómunka egy palotáért: bejárás mások őrületébe (Spadework for a Palace: Entering the Madness of Others, 2020), released in 2018. This wildly entertaining, slightly unhinged story unfolds in a ghostly Manhattan haunted by Herman Melville's spirit and his obsessive fans. It tackles the curse of imitation alongside the gift of defiance – and maybe a touch of sadness.
Anders Olsson
Chair of the Nobel Committee
Bibliography – a selection
Works in Hungarian
Sátántangó. – Budapest : Magvető, 1985
Kegyelmi viszonyok : halálnovellák. – Budapest : Magvető, 1986
Az ellenállás melankóliája. – Budapest : Magvető, 1989
Az urgai fogoly.– Budapest : Magvető, 1992
A Théseus-általános:titkos akadémiai előadások. – Budapest : Széphalom, 1993
Kegyelmi viszonyok : halálnovellák. – Budapest : Magvető, 1997
Megjött Ézsaiás. – Budapest : Magvető, 1998
Háború és háború : regény. – Budapest : Magvető, 1999
Este hat, néhány szabad megnyitás : művészeti írások/ fotó Haris László et al. – Budapest : Magvető, 2001
Északról hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó. – Budapest : Magvető, 2003
Rombolás és bánat az Ég alatt. – Budapest : Magvető, 2004
Seiobo járt odalent. – Budapest : Magvető, 2008
Az utolsó farkas. – Budapest : Magvető, 2009
ÁllatVanBent/ képek Max Neumann. – Budapest : Magvető, 2010
Nem kérdez, nem válaszol : huszonöt beszélgetés, ugyanarról. – Budapest : Magvető, 2012
Megy a világ. – Budapest : Magvető, 2013
Báró Wenckheim hazatér. – Budapest : Magvető, 2016
A Manhattan-terv/ Ornan Rotem fényképeivel ; Ornan Rotem esszéjét fordította Todero Anna. – Budapest : Magvető, 2018
Aprómunka egy palotáért : bejárás mások őrületébe. – Budapest : Magvető, 2018
Mindig Homérosznak : jó szerencse, semmi más : Odisejeva Spilja/ Max Neumann képeivel ; Miklós Szilveszter érhangjával. – Budapest : Magvető, 2019
Herscht 07769 : Florian Herscht Bach-regénye : elbeszélés. – Budapest : Magvető, 2021
Zsömle odavan. – Budapest : Magvető, 2024
Film
Damnation(Kárhozat) / directed by Béla Tarr ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 1988
The Last Boat–City Life(Az utolsó hajó) / directed by Béla Tarr ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 1990
Satantango(Sátántangó) / directed by Béla Tarr ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 1994 [re-released 2020]
Werckmeister Harmonies(Werckmeister harmóniák) / directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky (co-director, editor) ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 2000 [re-released 2024]
The Man from London(A Londoni férfi) / directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 2007. Based on a novel by Georges Simenon.
The Turin Horse (A Torinói ló) / directed by Béla Tarr ; screenplay by László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr, 2011
Opera
Melancholie des Widerstands : eine filmische Oper/ Musik von Marc-André Balbavie, Text von Guillaume Métayer in Zusammenarbeit mit David Marton nach dem Roman von László Krasznahorkai. Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin 30 juni 2024
Works in English
The Melancholy of Resistance/ translated from the Hungarian by George Szirtes. – London : Quartet Books, 1998. – Translation of: Az ellenállás melankóliája
War & War/ translated from the Hungarian by Georges Szirtes. – New York : New Directions, 2006. – Translation of: Háború és háború
Animalinside/ pictures: Max Neumann ; translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. Cahiers series, 14. – Paris : Center for Writers & Translators, the American University of Paris ; London : Sylph, 2010. – Translation of: ÁllatVanBent
Satantango/ translated from the Hungarian by George Szirtes. – New York : New Directions, 2012. – Translation of: Sátántangó
The Bill : For Palma Vecchio, at Venice/ translated from the Hungarian by George Szirtes. The art monographs, 2. – London : Sylph, 2013
Seiobo There Below/ translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. – New York : New Directions, 2013. – Translation of: Seiobo járt odalent
Destruction and Sorrow Beneath the Heavens : Reportage/ translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. – London : Seagull Books, 2016. – Translation of: Rombolás és bánat az Ég alatt
The Last Wolf and Herman/ translated from the Hungarian by George Szirtes and John Batki. – New York : New Directions, 2016. – Translation of: Az utolsó farkas
The Manhattan Project : A Literary Diary Presented as Twelve Chance Encounters or Coincidences/ alongside a photographic essay by Ornan Rotem ; translated from the Hungarian by John Batki. – London : Sylph, 2017. – Translation of: A Manhattan-terv
The World Goes On/ translated from the Hungarian by John Bátki, Ottilie Mulzet and George Szirtes. – New York : New Directions, 2017. – Translation of: Megy a világ
Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming/ translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. – New York: New Directions, 2019. – Translation of: Báró Wenckheim hazatér
Spadework for a Palace : Entering the Madness of Others/ translated from the Hungarian by John Batki. – New York : New Directions, 2020. – Translation of: Aprómunka egy palotáért
Chasing Homer : Good Luck, and Nothing Else : Odysseus’s Cave/ with art by Max Neumann ; with music by Szilveszter Miklós ; translated from the Hungarian by John Batki. – New York : New Directions, 2021. – Translation of: Mindig Homérosznak : jó szerencse, semmi más : Odisejeva Spilja
A Mountain to the North, a Lake to the South, Paths to the West, a River to the East/ translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. – New York : New Directions, 2022. – Translation of: Északról hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó
Herscht 07769 : A Novel/ translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet. – New York : New Directions, 2024. – Translation of: Herscht 07769 : Florian Herscht Bach-regénye
Works in French
Tango de Satan : roman/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Gallimard, 2000. – Traduction de : Sátántangó
La mélancolie de la résistance:roman/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Gallimard, 2006. – Traduction de : Az ellenállás melankóliája
Au nord par une montagne, au sud par un lac, à l’ouest par des chemins, à l’est par un cours d’eau/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2010. – Traduction de: Északról hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó
Thésée universel/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Marseille : Vagabonde, 2011. – Traduction de: A Théseus-általános
La venue d’Isaïe/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2013. – Traduction de : Megjött Ézsaiás
Guerre & guerre : roman/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2013. – Traduction de : Háború és háború
Sous le coup de la grâce : nouvelles de mort/ traduit du hongrois par Marc Martin. – Sénouillac: Vagabonde, 2015. – Traduction de: Kegyelmi viszonyok
Seiobo est descendue sur terre:roman/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2018. – Traduction de: Seiobo járt odalent
Le dernier loup/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2019. – Traduction de: Az utolsó farkas
Le baron Wenckheim est de retour : roman/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2023. – Traduction de: Báró Wenckheim hazatér
Petits travaux pour un palais : pénétrer la folie des autres/ traduit du hongrois par Joëlle Dufeuilly. – Paris : Cambourakis, 2024. – Traduction de: Aprómunka egy palotáért : bejárás mások őrületébe
Works in German
Gnadenverhältnisse/ aus dem Ungarischen von Hans Skirecki und Juliane Brandt. – Berlin : Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, 1988 ; Berlin : Berliner Künstlerprogramm d. DAAD, 1988. – Originaltitel: Kegyelmi viszonyok
Satanstango : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Hans Skirecki. – Zürich : Ammann, 1990. – Originaltitel: Sátántangó
Melancholie des Widerstands : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Hans Skirecki. – Zürich : Ammann, 1992. – Originaltitel: Az ellenállás melankóliája
Der Gefangene von Urga : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Hans Skirecki. – Zürich : Ammann, 1993. – Originaltitel: Az urgai fogoly
Krieg und Krieg : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Hans Skirecki. – Zürich : Ammann, 1999. – Originaltitel: Háború és háború
Im Norden ein Berg, im Süden ein See, im Westen Wege, im Osten ein Fluss : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Christina Viragh. – Zürich : Ammann, 2005. – Originaltitel: Északről hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó
Seiobo auf Erden : Erzählungen/ aus dem Ungarischen von Heike Flemming. – Frankfurt am Main : S. Fischer, 2010. – Originaltitel: Seiobo járt odalent
Die Welt voran/ aus dem Ungarischen von Heike Flemming. – Frankfurt am Main : S. Fischer, 2015. – Originaltitel: Megy a világ
Baron Wenckheims Rückkehr : Roman/ aus dem Ungarischen von Christina Viragh. – Frankfurt am Main : S. Fischer, 2018. – Originaltitel: Báró Wenckheim hazatér
Herscht 07769 : Florian Herscht Bach-Roman : Erzählung/ aus dem Ungarischen von Heike Flemming. – Frankfurt am Main : S. Fischer, 2021. – Originaltitel: Herscht 07769 : Florian Herscht Bach-regénye
Im Wahn der Anderen : drei Erzählungen/ aus dem Ungarischen von Heike Flemming ; mit Zeichnungen von Max Neumann und einem Schlagzeugsolo von Miklós Szilveszter. Inhalt: Animalinside ; Kleinstarbeit für einen Palast ; Richtung Homer. – Frankfurt am Main : S. Fischer, 2023. – Originaltitel: Mindig Homérosznak, Aprómunka egy palotáért, ÁllatVanBent
Works in Swedish
Motståndets melankoli/ översättning av Daniel Gustafsson Pech. – Stockholm : Norstedts, 2014. – Originaltitel: Az ellenállás melankóliája
Satantango/ översättning av Daniel Gustafsson Pech. – Stockholm : Norstedts, 2015. – Originaltitel: Sátántangó
Seiobo där nere/ översättning av Daniel Gustafsson. – Stockholm : Norstedts, 2017. – Originaltitel: Seiobo járt odalent
Den sista vargen/ översättning av Daniel Gustafsson. – Stockholm : Norstedts, 2020. – Originaltitel: Az utolsó farkas
Herscht 07769 : Florian Herschts roman om Bach/ översättning av Daniel Gustafsson. – Stockholm : Norstedts, 2023. – Originaltitel: Herscht 07769 : Florian Herscht Bach-regénye
Other
Dames, Nicholas,The Chapter : A Segmented History from Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century. – Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2023
Hansson, Cecilia, ”László Krasznahorkai : verkligheten var inte viktig för oss” urHopplöst, men inte allvarligt : konst och politik i Centraleuropa. – Stockholm : Natur & Kultur, 2017
Krasznahorkai, László, “The Last Boat” and “Getting Away from Bogdanovich” inThy Kingdom Come : 19 Short Stories by 11 Hungarian Authors/ translated by Eszter Molnár. – Budapest : Noran/Palatinus, 1999
Krasznahorkai, László, ”Muet face au sourd”.Le grand tour : autoportrait de l’Europe par ses écrivains/ ouvrage collectif sous la direction d’Olivier Guez. – Paris : Bernard Grasset, 2022
Krasznahorkai, László, ”Under barberarens hand” iMotivutveckling : en antologi med 14 ungerska berättelser från 80-talet/ översättning och redaktörskap: Jorgos Alevras. – Stockholm : Symposion, 1990
”László Krasznahorkai” inDie Paris Review Interviews – 03/ übersetzt von Alexandra Steffes. – Düsseldorf : Weltkiosk, 2019
“László Krasznahorkai, Béla Tarr, Max Neumann” inMusic and Literature. Issue two, Spring 2013
Le Grand Tour : autoportrait de l’Europe par ses écrivains/ ouvrage collectif sous la direction d’Olivier Guez. – Paris : Bernard Grasset, 2022
Lending, Mari, ”Fabrics of Reality : Art and Architecture in László Krasznahorkai” inReading Architecture : Literary Imagination and Architectural Experience/ edited by Angeliki Sioli and Yoonchun Jung. – New York : Routledge, 2018
Thirlwell, Adam, ”The Art of Fiction No. 240 : László Krasznahorkai” inThe Paris Review, no 225, 2018
Vihar, Judit, “Japanese Genji’s Hungarian Grandson” inIn search of Prince Genji : Japan in Words and Images. – Budapest : Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Arts, 2015
Wood, James, “Reality Examined to the Point of Madness: László Krasznahorkai” inThe fun Stuff and Other Essays. – New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012
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But here's the real debate: Does Krasznahorkai's relentless focus on despair and the absurd truly capture the human condition, or is it a pessimistic lens that overlooks moments of hope and resilience? Some might argue his long, period-less sentences mirror the endless flow of life, while others see them as a barrier to accessibility. What about his blending of Eastern and Western influences – is it a brilliant fusion or a cultural appropriation? And in an era of quick reads and social media, can his dense, contemplative style still resonate? We'd love to hear your take – do you find his apocalyptic themes empowering or overwhelming? Agree or disagree, drop your thoughts in the comments below!
